The Challenge of a Research Network on Play for Children with Disabilities

Abstract

LUDI network aims at the creation of a novel and autonomous field of research and intervention on play for children with disabilities. Play for disabilities is the object of a fragmented set of studies and it has given rise, in different countries and at different times, to niche projects (i.e. social robotics for autistic children, adapted toys for children with cognitive and motor disabilities, accessible playground areas). This theme is not yet a recognized area of research because of two main factors: a) disability represents a set of heterogeneous functioning frames; b) play is not leading the educational and rehabilitation contexts.