Despite the global recognition of the benefits of companion pet ownership, there is a lack of research exploring this phenomenon in an Arabic-speaking context such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study fills the knowledge gap by exploring the usefulness of pet ownership on the social skills, communication, emotional and physical well-being of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the UAE.

There is an ongoing debate about the aetiological origin of mathematical learning disabilities (MLD), particularly concerning whether the difficulties shown by these children stem from general or specific cognitive factors. This debate underscores the importance of identifying early cognitive deficits in MLD, which may lead to better early detection and intervention practices. The objective of this research was to identify early general and/or specific cognitive deficits in children with MLD from a longitudinal perspective. We specifically aimed to test domain-general cognitive deficits as well as symbolic versus non-symbolic domain-specific deficits as early precursors of MLD. A total of 226 children were assessed in kindergarten using domain-general and domain-specific cognitive tasks and were followed up to the second year of primary school, at which point 14 were identified as having MLD (scoring below the 10th percentile in a standardized math task). Results of a logistic regression indicated that symbolic comparison, number identification, and working memory (specifically the executive component) were significant early longitudinal predictors of MLD. Implications for early identification are discussed.

When transitioning from high school, autistic job seekers often navigate three different pathways to employment: University, Job Coaching, and Self-Directed (defined as those job seekers who independently complete the job search process, without formal support). Assistive technology may aid job seekers throughout the job seeking process. The aim of this study is to learn more about the challenges and assistive technology that autistic job seekers encounter while navigating these three different employment pathways.

While the double ABCX model has been evaluated in various contexts, large-scale studies on gender among parents of children with rare diseases remain scarce.

Attentional and cognitive profiles of youth diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or co-occurring ADHD and ASD were examined in a large, nationwide clinical sample in Iceland. The impact of anxiety disorders on cognitive performance in this neurodiverse sample was also examined.

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is often considered a motor learning disorder, yet supporting evidence remains limited and inconclusive. This study aimed to refine our understanding of motor learning in DCD by examining its underlying mechanisms and stabilization of learning in later stages, beyond ad hoc learning. Visuomotor adaptation was assessed in a two-session experiment involving prolonged learning phases, separated by a night of sleep, in a centre-out drawing task, in 21 children with (age: 13.7 ± 1.5 years) and 15 without DCD (age: 14.2 ± 1.4 years). Neurophysiological responses to adaptation were evaluated through EEG-measured error-related negativity, indexing sensory prediction error processing. Sleep quality was assessed to explore potential sleep impairments in DCD. Results seem to suggest difficulty in early-stage adaptation in DCD, reflected by greater directional error. However, their performance stabilised after prolonged learning, and they successfully updated their internal model of action, indicated by similar after-effects in both groups. On day two, participants with DCD seem to face more difficulty re-adapting but still achieved stabilised performance. Crucially, despite on-task learning gains, they never reached the performance level of their neurotypical peers, plateauing with higher directional errors, possibly due to a noisier sensorimotor system, that accommodates less reliable motor prediction. Neurophysiological findings suggested reduced sensory prediction error sensitivity in DCD, particularly in participants with persistent motor difficulties. Although sleep disturbances were observed in DCD, no direct link with learning outcomes was found. Overall, this study suggests that motor control limitations, rather than a core learning deficit, constrain motor performance in children with DCD.

Pragmatic language competence-the ability to use language effectively in social contexts-is foundational for communication, learning, and social integration. Difficulties in pragmatics are not only a hallmark of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but are also prevalent across developmental disabilities, including ADHD, developmental language disorder, and intellectual disability. Such deficits predict long-term challenges in adaptive functioning, peer relationships, and educational attainment. This longitudinal study investigates early predictors of pragmatic language competence in middle childhood (age 8.5), using developmental data from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and the Language-8 study. We examined social-communicative behaviors at 18 and 36 months-specifically joint attention, declarative pointing, and imitation-using items from the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) and Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Results indicate that early joint attention and social responsiveness significantly predict later pragmatic competence, even in a community sample without clinical diagnoses. These findings highlight pragmatic language difficulties as a transdiagnostic marker of developmental vulnerability and underscore the importance of early identification and intervention. By clarifying early predictors, this research informs both developmental science and special education practice, strengthening pathways for early support to children at risk of communication and social challenges.

Children with Down syndrome (DS) often face challenges maintaining adequate levels of physical activity, which might be associated with their mobility performance. Therefore, the objectives of this study were i) to describe parent-reported physical activity level and performance of mobility of children with DS and ii) to explore relationship between parent-reported physical activity level and performance of mobility in children with Down syndrome.

The concept of quality of life (QoL) is comprehensive and complex, particularly when considering people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Such individuals often face numerous challenges in their lives, which adversely affect their overall QoL.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition globally, including in Arab countries, where stigma, limited awareness, and scarce specialized services often delay diagnosis and care. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers scalable solutions for screening, early diagnosis, and intervention programmes.

Recognizing the common co-occurring conditions among individuals with Down syndrome (DS) is essential for maintaining appropriate screening and optimizing healthcare resources. However, many previous studies relied on hospital- or community-based convenience samples with small sample sizes, limiting their generalizability. This study aimed to investigate the association between DS and co-occurring conditions in a large cohort of children and young adults.

This study conducts a multi-database bibliometric analysis to map the intellectual landscape of language intervention research for children with ASD from 2001 to 2024, seeking to identify foundational and trending topics, map collaborative networks, and trace thematic evolution, thereby offering data-driven guidance for setting research priorities, fostering international cooperation, and informing clinical practice translation.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a robust predictor of later mental health symptoms in the general population, and set individuals up for stressful life events in adulthood. There is a paucity of research on whether these associations are also observed in adults with Down syndrome. The current study examined the prevalence of ACEs and their association with later adult stressful life events and mental health symptoms in a cohort of adults with Down syndrome (n = 157).

Improving quality of life (QoL) for individuals with blindness and visual impairment (BVI) is integral to encouraging their active participation in society, thereby promoting positive social change and creating a more promising future. This qualitative study adopts an intrinsic case study design to explore a Saudi family comprising five highly educated members (one male and four females) who have inherited blindness. They live with their sighted parents and two siblings in the same house in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, and are professionally active as freelancers, advertisers, teachers, and postgraduate students. This approach was chosen to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of participants who are blind from birth (BfB), focusing on key factors that impact their QoL. Data were collected using a triangulated methodology, including in-depth semi-structured interviews, live recordings, and analysis of artefacts. Theoretical coding analysis revealed four main themes representing factors that impact QoL: (a) life orientation and mobility, (b) information accessibility, (c) employment opportunities, and (d) loneliness and social isolation. These themes encompassed 15 subthemes and 57 individual codes. Findings indicated that participants who are BfB demonstrate strong adaptive skills, digital independence, and psychological resilience, yet continue to confront barriers related to environmental accessibility, assistive technology, and workplace inclusion. A 3 × 4 conceptual model was developed to illustrate the factors influencing the QoL of BfB individuals. The study concludes by recommending solutions that promote the role of education and implementation to enhance QoL for all individuals with BVI.

The Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd edition (MABC-2) is a widely used motor assessment tool for identifying Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). However, the structural validity of the MABC-2 remains underinvestigated, particularly in children aged 7-10, when DCD is most frequently diagnosed. The primary aim of this study was to examine the structural validity of the MABC-2 in European and African children aged 7-10 years.

Parental support constitutes a critical determinant of physical activity (PA) engagement in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet its predictors remain understudied. Grounded in an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework, this study examines the sequential relationships between parental support intention, parental action planning, parental support, and PA in this population.

Despite growing interest in expanding the scope of social participation from passive to active, few studies have empirically examined participation patterns among people with developmental disabilities (DD), particularly in South Korea.

The objective of this study is to examine the macroeconomic effects of disability-inclusive labor regulations in Saudi Arabia. A dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model is calibrated to a commodity-disaggregated Social Accounting Matrix (SAM). The study simulates two policy scenarios: a general employment quota and a service-sector-specific quota for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Each scenario is evaluated under different elasticity of substitution parameters (σ = 0.8, 1.0, 1.5) to capture the sensitivity of the economy to production flexibility. The findings indicate that both regulatory policies produce positive macroeconomic impacts, particularly in scenarios of low substitution elasticity, reflecting limited capacity of firms to replace PWD labor with alternative inputs. Under such conditions, increased PWD employment enhances real GDP, amplifies household consumption, stimulates investment, and yields GDP multipliers exceeding 2.0. Nevertheless, when production flexibility rises (σ = 1.5), the beneficial economic impacts diminish, resulting in GDP multipliers falling below 1.0, indicating less responsiveness and constrained supplementary employment or investment. The study highlights the importance of labor market structure in determining the effectiveness of inclusive employment policies. In less flexible production systems, disability inclusion fosters robust and sustainable economic benefits. In contrast, adaptable systems may necessitate supplementary measures to sustain the progress of labor inclusion and its impact on economic inclusion and quality of life.

To comprehensively map the types of assistive devices implemented for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), regardless of setting, and clarify the methodologies used in these interventions. Specifically, we sought to answer the following questions: (1) What types of assistive devices are available for children with DCD? (2) What is known about the targeted participants, the purpose of using assistive devices, programs implemented, evaluations and results? (3) What are the current limitations of assistive devices, such as lack of tools for fine motor skills, limited focus on daily activities, and insufficient consideration of DCD pathophysiology?

Parents perceive a lack of prognostic information among the most challenging consequences of having a child with a rare disease. Although the medical phenotype of FOXP1 syndrome, including neurodevelopmental delay, speech impairment, psychiatric problems and congenital malformations is becoming clearer, there is little detailed information about the acquisition of activities of daily living. This study aimed to provide a detailed picture of practical and daily social skills development in individuals with FOXP1 syndrome. In this cross-sectional study, parents were invited to complete an online questionnaire about the medical issues, milestones and practical abilities of their child with FOXP1 syndrome (n = 52, age 2-54 years). We found that individuals with FOXP1 syndrome have great difficulties with both basic and instrumental activities of daily living, but continue to develop their skills into adulthood. Although most individuals learn to perform some basic daily living tasks independently, the majority heavily rely on their parents, many needing 24-7 supervision to support many aspects of daily life up to adulthood. The results of this study can be used to counsel parents after a diagnosis of FOXP1. We include a visual representation of the results for parents in the Supplementary file.