Motor Competence in Children With Visual Impairment in Jordan

Although visual impairment is the most common disability among Jordanians, there is currently very little research examining motor competence in this population. Motor competence of children with visual impairment has been mainly investigated in developed countries. Considering the different education system, the aim of this study was to examine gross motor skills in youth with visual impairments in developing countries, using Jordan as a case study. A total of 65 children aged 6–12 years participated, with their motor skills assessed using the Test for Gross Motor Development third edition, a validated tool for evaluating gross motor development in children with disabilities. The study compared performance across sex, age, and levels of visual impairment. Results showed that boys outperformed girls in specific ball skills, and older children excelled in certain locomotor skills. Children with low vision significantly surpassed children with complete blindness (B1s) in both locomotor and ball skills, with substantial disparities observed in six motor skills. Effect sizes were particularly pronounced for skills such as running, striking, and throwing. These findings underscore the significant impact of visual impairment on motor competence, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to enhance physical fitness for children with visual impairments in similar contexts.