Home modifications to improve accessibility of children with Cerebral Palsy in Malaysia

Abstract

The physical environment in homes plays a crucial part in accessibility to persons with disabilities from all angles. This includes persons with cerebral palsy (CP), a common childhood disability that affects many children worldwide. Currently it is estimated that 2 to 3 babies in every 1000 births globally are born with CP due to the injury to the brain that occurred during pregnancy, birth, or early years of life. Subsequently, the physical environment of children with cerebral palsy is frequently inaccessible. The objective of this study is to identify to what extent modifications are made in existing homes to improve accessibility and promote independence in children with cerebral palsy. An online survey via Google Form was disseminated to parents of children with CP with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Levels II, III and IV. From a total of 41 participating respondents, only nine respondents reported they had made modifications in their homes to improve their child’s accessibility. Those who were unable to make modifications faced obstacles such as cost, the inability to make changes to rented property and lack of urgency. Many studies conclude that the accessibility of the physical environment in homes of children with cerebral palsy is essential for promoting children’s independence. The study also informed that the modification would assist other physical disabilities, such as the ageing population and individuals with physical impairments. Therefore, this study suggests additional design strategies to incorporate requirements for children with cerebral palsy into the existing Malaysian Standard (MS) 1184: 2014 – Universal Design and accessibility in the built environment – Code of Practice reference and more incentives from the government, such as financial assistance to help ease the burden of home modification for the physically disabled.