DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MOTOR ABILITIES OF STUDENTS ATTENDING A REGULAR SECONDARY SCHOOL AND THOSE ATTENDING A SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Abstract. Because of relatively few studies concerning the differences in motor abilities between adolescents with mild intellectual disabilities and their peers without any such impairments, the need for this type of research activities is increasing. The aim of the current research was to determine whether there is statistically significant difference in the motor abilities of adolescents attending special and regular schools, as well as potential gender differences. Forty-five students with disabilities and forty- eight typically developing students (both genders), age 16 ± 6 months, participated in the cross-sectional research. Motor abilities were assessed by following tests: plate tapping, forward lean, open-eyes one-leg stand, standing broad jump, 20m run, sit-ups and the flexed arm hang. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine the differences between the groups, whereas differences between groups for each individual variable were determined by univariate analysis (ANOVA) at the p≤0.05 significance level. The research results indicate that the students with mild intellectual disabilities had statistically significant lower results in manifesting motor abilities: plate tapping (f=134.155; p=0.000), forward lean (f=29.876; p=0.000), open-eyes one-leg stand (f=27.220; p=0.000), standing broad jump (f=6.189; p=0.015) and sit-ups (f=18.189; p=0.000). Gender differences were also statistically significant in favor of the males and females attending regular schools. Inferiority of the students attending special schools in relation to their typically developing peers is due to poor cognitive development and a sedentary lifestyle, caused by decreased physical activity due to the lack of possibilities for engaging in an organized physical activity.Key words: mild intellectual disability, special and regular schools, adolescents, motor abilities, differences