The document discusses several research studies related to physical independence and participation in physical activities for children with disabilities:
1. One study examined the gap between independence and frequency of participation in daily activities for children with disabilities in Taiwan. It found that restrictions in frequency of participation were greater than restrictions in independence, especially in neighborhood settings.
2. Another study identified important quality of life domains for children with cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities through parent interviews, such as physical health, social connections, and access to services.
3. A third study explored perceptions of post-traumatic growth in spinal cord injured athletes participating in parasports and found benefits like improved physical functioning and identity.
4. The document discusses several
20240408 Bending Backwards to the Second Step Up.docx
Physical independence children disabilities correlation parasport
1. Research Methodology
Evaluation of physical independenceof
children with disabilities and its correlation
with parasport activity.
By: Shabana Godme
2. 2
Introduction
Physical independence of children with disabilities
In the context of disability, the concept of independence does not confine itself to such
traditional criteria as living in one’s own home, or being employed in an appropriate
job. Rock (1988) argues “Independence for young people with disability means having
choice and control of their life and their environment”.
PRIMARY RESOURCE
1. Participation of Children with Disabilities in
Taiwan: The Gap between Independence and
Frequency
Hwang AW1, Yen CF2, Liou TH3, Simeonsson RJ4,Chi WC5, Lollar DJ6, Liao HF7, Kang LJ1, Wu TF8, Teng SW9,
Chiu WT10.
Background
Independence and frequency are two distinct dimensions of participation in daily life.
The gap between independence and frequency may reflect the role of the environment
on participation, but this distinction has not been fully explored.
Methods
3. 3
A total of 18,119 parents or primary caregivers of children with disabilities aged 6.0-17.9
years were interviewed in a cross-sectional nationwide survey with the Functioning
Scale of the Disability Evaluation System - Child version (FUNDES-Child). A section
consisting of 20 items measured the children’s daily participation in 4 environmental
settings: home, neighborhood/community, school, and home/community. Higher
independence and frequency restriction scores indicated greater limitation of
participation in daily activities. Scores for independence, frequency and
independence-frequency gaps were examined across ages along with trend analysis.
ANOVA was used to compare the gaps across settings and diagnoses for children with
mild levels of severity of impairment.
Findings
A negative independence-frequency gap (restriction of frequency was greater than
that of independence) was found for children with mild to severe levels of impairment.
A positive gap (restriction of independence was greater than that of frequency) was
found for children with profound levels of severity. The gaps became wider with age in
most settings of children with mild impairment and different diagnoses. Widest
negative gaps were found for the neighborhood/community settings than for the other
three settings for children with mild to severe impairment.
Conclusions
Children’s participation and independence-frequency gaps depend not only on the
severity of their impairments or diagnoses, but also on their age, the setting and the
support provided by their environment. In Taiwan, more frequency restrictions than
ability restrictions were found for children with mild to moderate severity, especially
in the neighborhood/community setting, and increased with age. Further
4. 4
identification of environmental opportunities that positively impact frequency of
participation is needed.
2.Exploring qualityof lifeof childrenwith cerebralpalsy
and intellectualdisability:What are the important
domains of life?
Davis E1
, Reddihough D2,3
, Murphy N4
, Epstein A4
, Reid SM2,3
, Whitehouse A4
, Williams
K2,3
, Leonard H4
, Downs J4,5
.
Author information
BACKGROUND:
Although it is estimated that half of all children with cerebral palsy also have comorbid
intellectual disability, the domains of quality of life (QOL) important for
these children are not well understood. The aim of this study was to identify important
domains of QOL for these children and adolescents.
METHODS:
Due to the children's communication impairments, qualitative semi-structured
interviews were conducted with 18 parents. The children (9 males) had a median age of
12 (range 7 to 17) years at interview and nearly two thirds were classified as Gross
Motor Function Classification System IV or V. A grounded theory approach was used
to identify domains of QOL.
RESULTS:
The 11 domains identified as important to QOL were physical health, body comfort,
behaviour and emotion, communication, predictability and routine, movement
and physical activity, nature and outdoors, variety of activity, independence and
autonomy, social connectedness, and access to services.
5. 5
CONCLUSIONS:
The domains of QOL that emerged from this study will be useful for professionals who
support children with cerebral palsy and their families. They will also be important for
developing a QOL instrument essential for informing the development of
interventions and their monitoring and evaluation.
3.An examination of post-traumatic growth in Canadian
and American ParaSport athletes with acquired spinal
cord injury
Jennifer J.Crawford1Amy M.GaymanJillTracey
Abstract
Objectives
The study was guided by two research questions: (1) Does participation in ParaSport
following acquired spinal cord injury (SCI) influence people's perceptions of post
traumatic growth (PTG)? (2) What specific dimensions of PTG, if any, do ParaSport
athletes report experiencing?
Design
A phenomenological approach was adopted to understand ParaSport athletes'
perceptions and experiences of PTG and sport participation following acquired SCI.
Method
6. 6
Twelve participants with acquired SCI who integrated, reintegrated, or attempted to
integrate into sport completed a survey and participated in a semi-structured
interview to assess their perceptions of acquired SCI, involvement in ParaSport, and
PTG.
Results
Five general dimensions of growth emerged from the data including: (a) injury
relevant processing; (b) appreciation for life; (c) reactive behavior as a result of
attempted integration into ParaSport; (d) relating to others and (e) health and well-
being. Participants reported increased physical functioning and independence related
to their involvement in sport. Emotional and psychological gains were also associated
with ParaSport including re-establishment of self-identity, improved clarity and
perception of life, changed priorities, greater confidence, and enhanced social
relationships.
Conclusions
Participation in ParaSport following acquired SCI may provide physical, emotional,
and psychological health benefits, which should be considered in the development and
implementation of sport related interventions to encourage PTG. Clinicians and
rehabilitation specialists may use information from the present study to help
individuals improve their identity, build relationships, and develop an appreciation for
life after incurring a SCI.
7. 7
4. Parents' experiences of participation in physical
activities for children with cerebral palsy - protecting
and pushing towards independence.
Lauruschkus K1, Nordmark E1, Hallström I1.
Author information
PURPOSE:
To explore how parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience their child's
participation in physical activities and to identify facilitators and barriers for being
physically active and reducing sedentary behaviour.
METHODS:
Twenty-five parents of sixteen children, aged 8-11 years old with CP, with varying
gross motor, cognitive and communicative functions and with different cultural
8. 8
backgrounds, participated in focus group or individual interviews. Content analysis
was used for analysis.
RESULTS:
Five subcategories addressing children's participation in physical activity were found:
"Belonging and taking space in the family", "Important persons facilitating and
hindering", "Friends important but hard to get", "Good for the body but challenging"
and "Availability and opting out possibilities". The subcategories built the main
category "Protecting and pushing towards independence", expressing the challenges
parents experienced when their child wanted to be physically active.
CONCLUSIONS:
Parents desire competent persons to be available for support in participation in
physical activities. They want support in finding friends for their child to be physically
active with. Family culture and attitudes affect their child's motivation for being
physically active and should be taken into account when designing interventions for
increased participation in physical activities and for reduced sedentary behaviour in
children with disabilities. Implications for Rehabilitation Friends and competent
adults facilitate participation in physical activities and reduce sedentary behaviour.
Information on accessible and tailored physical activities is an important facilitator for
participation in physical activities. Service planning and design of interventions may
be facilitated by taking the individual family culture into account.
9. 9
5. Barriers and facilitators to physical activity
participation for children with physical disability:
comparing and contrasting the views of children,
young people, and their clinicians.
Wright A1, Roberts R2, Bowman G1,2, Crettenden A2.
Author information
PURPOSE:
Existing research has explored the barriers and facilitators of physical activity
participation for young people with disability from the perspective of young people
and their families. However, little research has investigated the views of clinicians who
facilitate access to physical activity programs and compared this with their child
client's perspectives.
10. 10
METHOD:
Interviews were conducted with six allied health and sports development
professionals associated with a programme which supports access to recreation and
sporting activities. Interviews explored facilitators and barriers to physical activity
experienced by their clients. Open-ended survey questions investigating barriers and
facilitators of physical activity participation were also completed by 28 young people
with disability aged 10-17 years who were clients of this programme.
RESULTS:
The most salient facilitator of participation described by clinicians was "planning
programs to promote success and inclusion." Young people described two main
facilitators; "the right people make physical activity fun!" and, similar to clinicians,
"appropriate and inclusive opportunities to be active." The most salient barriers
identified by clinicians were "practical limitations" and "time constraints and
priorities," and a novel barrier raised was "whose choice?" The "lack of accessible and
inclusive opportunities" was the most pertinent barrier for young people.
CONCLUSIONS:
Clinicians should determine both parent and young person commitment to a physical
activity before enrolment. Lack of commitment can act as a barrier to physical activity
and a more appropriate intervention could focus on increasing awareness of the
benefits of being active, drawing on a Stages of Change based model of service
delivery. Implications for rehabilitation Rehabilitation professionals seeking to
increase physical activity participation for young people with physical disability should
discuss readiness and motivation to change prior to any activity/sports referral.
Different behaviour change processes are required for young people and for their
11. 11
parents and both are important to achieve physical activity participation. Regular
monitoring is important to identify on-going physical and psychological barriers to
participation, even for those who were already active. Clinicians should be aware that
teenagers may be more ready to be active as they develop greater independence and
should raise awareness of the benefits of physical activity.
SECONDARYRESOURCES
1.Measures of self-care independence for children with
osteochondrodysplasia: a clinimetric review.
Ireland P1, Johnston LM.
Author information
Abstract
This systematic review evaluates the validity, reliability, and clinical utility of outcome
measures used to assess self-care skills among children with congenital
musculoskeletal conditions and assesses the applicability of these measures for
children with osteochondrodysplasia aged 0-12 years. Electronic databases were
searched to identify self-care assessments that addressed the self-care domain as
12. 12
defined by of the International Classification of Function Disability and included
children with osteochondrodysplasia. Ten measures were identified and three met the
inclusion criteria: the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM), the
Activities Scale for Kids (ASK), and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory
(PEDI). Although psychometric data specific to children with osteochondrodysplasia
are limited, adequate to excellent reliability and evidence of validity were reported for
all three instruments for children with physical disabilities. Further evaluation of
psychometric properties of self-care instruments specifically for children with
osteochondrodysplasia would be beneficial to help identify instruments that will assist
with improved assessment and management.
2. Promoting the Participation of Children With
Disabilities in Sports, Recreation, and Physical
Activities
Murphy NA, Carbone PS; American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Children With
Disabilities.
Abstract
The benefits of physical activity are universal for all children, including those with
disabilities. The participation of children with disabilities in sports and recreational
activities promotes inclusion, minimizes deconditioning, optimizes physical functioning,
and enhances overall well-being. Despite these benefits, children with disabilities are
more restricted in their participation, have lower levels of fitness, and have higher levels
of obesity than their peers without disabilities. Pediatricians and parents may
13. 13
overestimate the risks or overlook the benefits of physical activity in children with
disabilities. Well-informed decisions regarding each child's participation must consider
overall health status, individual activity preferences, safety precautions, and availability
of appropriate programs and equipment. Health supervision visits afford pediatricians,
children with disabilities, and parents opportunities to collaboratively generate goal-
directed activity “prescriptions.” Child, family, financial, and societal barriers to
participation need to be directly identified and addressed in the context of local, state,
and federal laws. The goal is inclusion for all children with disabilities in appropriate
activities. This clinical report discusses the importance of physical activity, recreation,
and sports participation for children with disabilities and offers practical suggestions to
pediatric health care professionals for the promotion of participation.
3. Participation of Disabled Individuals Within
Disability Sport
Author
Fallon, Emily
Abstract
Participation within disability sport is increasing in awareness and popularity. However
there is limited data and literature available that examines the specific factors that can
influence or hinder participation rates. This study sets out to provide a theoretical and
practical overview of issue and influences faced when participation (sic) within disability
sport. A series of interviews were carried out in order to gain an in depth understanding
into the influences when participating within disability sport and provided a detailed
14. 14
overview of factors that hindered participation as well. The key findings were that
participation within an educational setting was key to continuing to take part in disability
sport throughout the participantsadult life, furthermore the results highlighted the barriers
disabled athletes face when accessing facilities and potential sports clubs and centres.
Prospective studies that examines in depth the influences current initiatives and
government policieshave upon participation rates are needed to develop the understanding
of disability sport and how to continue to promote it throughout society.
4.The Challenge and Challenging of Childhood Studies?
Learning from Disability Studies and Research with
Disabled Children
E. Kay M. Tisdall
First published: 16 April 2012
Abstract
Childhood studies have argued for the social construction of childhood, respecting
children and childhood in the present, and recognising children's agency and rights.
Such perspectives have parallels to, and challenges for, disability studies. This article
considers such parallels and challenges, leading to a (re)consideration of research
15. 15
claims to represent children's ‘voices’ and the current promotion of children's
participation as researchers. It concludes how research with disabled children
encourages due account of multiple communication methods to access, analyse and
present research, and being more reflexive about assumptions of competency,
expertise and agency in the roles of researcher and research participant.
5.Child functional independence and maternal
psychosocial stress as risk factors threatening
adaptation in mothers of physically or sensorially
handicapped children.
By Wallander, Jan L.,Pitt, Lisa C.,Mellins, Claude A.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol 58(6), Dec 1990, 818-824
Abstract
16. 16
This study investigated the contribution of child functional independence and
maternal psychosocial stress to the adaptation of 119 mothers. Each mother had a
child, aged 2–18 yrs, with a physical or sensory disability. Multiple dimensions of each
construct were measured through self-report. Child functional independence did not
uniquely explain variation in mothers' adaptation. However, maternal stress was
uniquely associated with maternal mental health, but not physical health or social
functioning, even when controlling for demographic status, disability type, and
functional independence. Daily hassles and handicap-related psychosocial stress in
particular put mothers at risk for reporting mental health problems.
Links:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25962175
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029214000454
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/121/5/1057.short
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2012.00431.x
