Abstract
This study aims to clarify the interactions between preschool children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities and healthy children in the community. The survey covered all 521 child development support facilities in Tokyo, Japan. The questionnaire utilized a 5-point scale with free answers. A total of 142 facilities responded, resulting in a response rate of 27.3 %. Among the 47 facilities that accommodated children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities, only 22.5% conducted community interactions. This suggests that many facilities do not conduct community interactions or plan to implement them in the future. Freedescription analysis identified seven clusters, revealing factors contributing to the lack of interaction. These include the physical anxiety of children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities, the intentions of their parents, infection control measures, and challenges in building relationships with the local community. To foster interactions between children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities and their healthy counterparts, it is necessary for supporters to create conducive environments. This suggests the need to review policies for children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities from the perspective of education that leads to the development of each child with severe motor and intellectual disabilities.
