Hydroponics Program for Improving Work Adjustment Skills in Students with Mental Retardation

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a horticultural therapy (HT) program using hydroponics procedure for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. ‘Asia Heuk Romaine’) for improving work adjustment skills in students with mental retardation. A total of 22 sessions in the HT program was developed based on the critical role transitional model and Korean special education curriculum for agriculture, especially hydroponics. Fourteen students (graded 1st to 2nd) with intellectual disabilities from a special education class in a high school located in Inchon, South Korea, participated in the HT program for 4 months (from September to December of 2011, twice a week, about 60 minutes per session). The McCarron assessment neuromuscular development, emotional behavioral checklist, interpersonal negotiation strategies, and KEPAD picture vocational interest tests were used by teachers and horticultural therapists before and after the HT program. The results showed that motor performance, emotional behavioral strategies, and interpersonal negotiation strategies were significantly improved after finishing the 4-month HT program. There was no significant difference for vocational interest before and after the HT program. Finally, the HT program using hydroponics would be applicable for the students with intellectual disabilities and it may improve work adjustment skills by improving the motor performance, emotional behavioral strategies, and interpersonal negotiation strategies.