Positive Health Effects Of The Natural Environment On Children With Disability

ABSTRACT

It is seen that nature have healing and treating features for the disabled children with natural environment values (vegetation, water resources, birds, and other living creatures) that they possess. Getting information about what these features are and what kind of improvement does the presence of the disabled children in these natural areas provide is the starting point of this study. The goal of the study is to determine the effect of the natural environment values of the Lake Eymir located in the immediate environment of Ankara city on the children with Cerebral Palsy. In order to define the healing and treating effects of the natural environment values of Lake Eymir-Mogan on the children with Cerebral Palsy, natural factors of the area of Lake Eymir the study was conducted step-by-step: 1. Systematically Observation 2. Development Observation Forms 3. Survey and interview. In the study, observation method was implemented on children with Cerebral Palsy chosen from Dogan Caglar Special Education Primary School (DCSEPS) in the Lake Eymir and its surroundings. After providing disabled children to join the trip and conduct different activities in the area of Lake Eymir and its surroundings for 6 days, development form was prepared in order to evaluate the effects of this kind of natural areas on the children subjected the study. This form was given to teachers working in DCSEPS and they were asked to observe the four students taking part in the study during lessons and in the classrooms. To obtain information about the level of performance of the natural areas in Ankara and their adequacy and compliance level, and also to better understand the problems of these children, survey studies were conducted on parents with disabeled childeren.  In addition, the interview was conducted face to face with the psychologist working in the Center of Education and Rehabilitation of the Cerebral Palsy and also in DCSEPS.  In this study, it was seen that spending time in natural areas created a positive effect on the children with Cerebral Palsy and the activities conducted in this area improved motor, language, social and sentimental development as well as their self-maintenance skills.