Abstract
Participation of children in rehabilitation services is associated with positive functional and developmental outcomes for children with disabilities. Participation in therapy is at risk when the personal and environmental contexts of a child create barriers to accessing services. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a framework for conceptualizing the personal and environmental factors linked to a child. However, it does not facilitate critical examination of the person–environment relationship and its impact on participation in children's rehabilitation. This perspective study proposes the use of intersectionality theory as a critical framework in complement with the ICF to examine the impact of systemic inequities on the participation in therapy for children with disabilities. Clinicians are called to be critical allies working alongside children and families to advocate for inclusive participation in children's rehabilitation by identifying and transforming systemic inequities in service delivery.
Highlights
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) holistically conceptualizes everyday functioning and disability across the interconnected domains of the following: body functions and structure, activity, and participation [1]
Opportunities for participation, including participation in therapy, for a girl with a disability may be limited due to the possibility of sexist and ableist discrimination resulting from person–environment interactions. This example demonstrates the need to explore the intersection between the personal factors of sex and culture as influenced by disability and the environment in which the family is situated to understand implications for participation in therapy. This example illustrates how intersectionality theory can be applied in complement to the ICF by contributing a critical lens to examine the interaction between the ICF personal and the environmental factors to identify potential participation restrictions resulting from systemic discrimination
Applying a critical perspective facilitates an in depth understanding of how the person–environment relationship potentially impacts the participation of children with disabilities in rehabilitation services
Summary
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) holistically conceptualizes everyday functioning and disability across the interconnected domains of the following: body functions and structure, activity, and participation [1]. This example demonstrates the need to explore the intersection between the personal factors of sex and culture as influenced by disability and the environment in which the family is situated to understand implications for participation in therapy This example illustrates how intersectionality theory can be applied in complement to the ICF by contributing a critical lens to examine the interaction between the ICF personal (i.e., sex, culture) and the environmental factors (i.e., stigma) to identify potential participation restrictions resulting from systemic discrimination. Applying an intersectional lens allows us to critically consider how personal factors, as outlined by the ICF, interact with the ICF environmental domains to maintain systemic inequities and impact participation in therapy This creates an opportunity for the rich examination of potential facilitators and barriers to participation. In some cultures, stigmatization of disability prevents parents from
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