Supporting the participation of youth with physical disabilities: Parents' strategies

Abstract

Introduction Little is known about strategies used by parents to explicitly promote the participation in meaningful occupations of transition-age youth. This descriptive study explored the type and scope of parents' strategies to facilitate the participation of youth living with a physical disability. Methods Twenty-two parents of youths (12 to 18 years) with mobility restriction reported strategies used at home, school, and in the community by completing the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth at two time points. Content analysis was conducted. Strategies were extracted and coded, and sub-categories were identified and organised into the three domains (person, occupation, environment) of the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance – Engagement. Findings Overall, 241 strategies were reported, of which 130 were distinct. The strategies encompassed all three domains of the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance – Engagement, with an emphasis on youths' immediate physical environment and no reference to institutional policies at the macro level. The majority of strategies focused on facilitating youths' participation in the school setting through collaboration, advocacy, and involvement. Conclusion Findings can increase our understanding of the range of actions parents take in supporting participation of transition-age youth. Occupational therapists can build on those strategies and, through family-centred practice, jointly promote youth participation and inclusion.