Wheeled mobility: the perception of parents of children with cerebral palsy

• Main Authors: Mariana Volpini, Marina de Brito Brandão, Lívia Álvares Rabelo Pereira, Marisa Cotta Mancini, Marcella Guimarães Assis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de São Carlos 2013-12-01
• Series: Cadernos de Terapia Ocupacional
• Subjects: Wheelchairs; Daily Routine; Cerebral Palsy; Assistive Technology.
• Online Access: http://doi.editoracubo.com.br/10.4322/cto.2013.049

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often use mobility devices as facilitators of their functionality and independence, and these devices may have a positive impact on their caregivers’ quality of life. Considering a family-centered approach, parents assume a decisive role in different stages of the therapeutic process, guiding several actions of the rehabilitation professionals during the search, development and/or adaptation of equipment that meet the specific needs of customers. The aim of this research was to understand the perceptions of parents of children with CP on the use of the wheelchair in the daily routines of their children. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 16 parents of CP children who were wheelchair users assisted at ‘Associação Mineira de Reabilitação’. Content analysis grounded the categorization of themes that emerged from the interviews. The results expressed in themes such as “The look on the daily routine” and “The look on the equipment” pointed out characteristics related to the benefits of the use of the wheelchair in promoting child participation at home, at school, and in community environments, as well as different features of wheelchairs that facilitate or hamper their use in children’s daily routine.