Participation in social aspects of daily life is crucial to children’s development. Although disability status is recognized to affect children’s ability to participate in social activities, little is understood about the impact of sensory processing disorders (SPD) on children’s social participation. We examined the social participation patterns of 2 groups of children (ages 6-9): (1) […]
Abstract Topics: Social Participation
Beyond my front door: the occupational and social participation of adults with spinal cord injury.
This study investigated how individuals in the community 1 to 5 years after spinal cord injury characterized their occupational and social participation, life satisfaction, and aspects of their occupational therapy that influenced their participation. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with 11 individuals referred by occupational therapists who specialize in spinal cord injury rehabilitation and/or are […]
Exploring communication assistants as an option for increasing communication access to communities for people who use augmentative communication.
This paper describes the results of a one-year intervention project that aimed to (a) learn about the communication supports required by people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) when accessing their communities, (b) develop and implement a funded communication assistant service as an accessibility support option for people who use AAC when communicating in […]
Girls with spinal cord injury: social and job-related participation and psychosocial outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: To examine social and job-related participation among girls with spinal cord injury (SCI) and relationships between participation, depression, and quality of life. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: This sample included 97 girls (aged 7-17 years) who had sustained SCI at least 1 year prior to interview, and who were receiving care at three pediatric SCI centers […]
Use of the LIFE-H in stroke rehabilitation: a structured review of its psychometric properties.
PURPOSE: To perform a structured review of the psychometric properties specific to the stroke population of the Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H). This tool measures quality of social participation, an important but under-evaluated aspect of stroke recovery. METHOD: A structured review of publications at MEDLINE; Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library using the following terms: […]
Social and community participation of children and youth with cerebral palsy is associated with age and gross motor function classification.
BACKGROUND: Through social and community participation, children and youth with cerebral palsy (CP) form friendships, gain knowledge, learn skills, express creativity, and determine meaning and purpose in life. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were: (1) to determine whether social and community participation of children and youth with CP differ based on age, sex, and […]
Variables associated with communicative participation in people with multiple sclerosis: a regression analysis.
PURPOSE: To explore variables associated with self-reported communicative participation in a sample (n = 498) of community-dwelling adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHOD: A battery of questionnaires was administered online or on paper per participant preference. Data were analyzed using multiple linear backward stepwise regression. The dependent variable was an item response theory score of […]
Participation: a comparative analysis of multiple rehabilitation stakeholders’ perspectives.
OBJECTIVE: To examine how participation is conceptualized by different rehabilitation stakeholder groups. DESIGN: Qualitative case study design. SUBJECTS: A total of 148 participants from different stakeholder groups in 2 US states and the District of Columbia. Stakeholders included people with disabilities (n = 63), caregivers (n = 28), rehabilitation professionals (n = 32), funders (n […]
Impact of wheelchair acquisition on social participation.
PURPOSE: Efficient mobility could be a prerequisite to carrying out many daily activities and social roles (social participation). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of wheelchair acquisition on social participation. METHODS: Single group pre/post design where the intervention was the acquisition of a wheelchair paid for by the provincial government. Data […]
Mobility, assistive technology use, and social integration among adults with spina bifida.
OBJECTIVE: Many individuals with spina bifida have impairments that limit mobility and functional independence. Sedentary lifestyles and social isolation are very prevalent. This study evaluated the association between the use of mobility devices and degree of socialization. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was performed on 208 adults with spina bifida attending a university-based clinic. Data […]