NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: A PHYSIOTHERAPY PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental coordination disorder (DCD), intellectual disabilities (ID), and others affect millions of children worldwide, impacting their motor, cognitive, and social functioning. Inclusive education seeks to adapt learning environments to the diverse needs of all students, enabling children with NDDs to participate alongside their peers. Physiotherapy, as a cornerstone of paediatric rehabilitation, plays a critical role by enhancing motor function, strength, and participation, thereby supporting inclusion (Chua et al., 2023; Das and Ganesh, 2019). This chapter reviews key NDDs and their educational challenges, outlines principles of inclusive education, and highlights evidence-based physiotherapy interventions. A table summarizes physiotherapy “prescriptions” for various NDDs based on the literature. We emphasize that interprofessional collaboration between therapists and educators is essential to translate these interventions into practice and bridge gaps between policy and classroom realities (Bölte et al., 2021; Chua et al., 2023).