"Occupation is a collection of activities that
individuals use to fill their time and give life meaning, organized around
roles or in terms of activities of daily living, work and productive
activities, or play and leisure" (Kramer, P., Hinojosa, J. 1999).
For young child play is their number one occupation, it is through play that they learn and develop those crucial skills that they require to carry out normal functioning. For a child with cerebral palsy, play is not quite that easy. Imagine the frustration of wanting to so badly reach out and grab that toy car on the floor next to you or being able to hear the rustling of people around you but physically being unable to control your body movements and having the strength to reach out and grab that toy or hold your head in an upright position.
For young child play is their number one occupation, it is through play that they learn and develop those crucial skills that they require to carry out normal functioning. For a child with cerebral palsy, play is not quite that easy. Imagine the frustration of wanting to so badly reach out and grab that toy car on the floor next to you or being able to hear the rustling of people around you but physically being unable to control your body movements and having the strength to reach out and grab that toy or hold your head in an upright position.
Cerebral Palsy is the most common disability among children,
it is a permanent impairment that affects automatic postural control and
movement as a result of non-progressive brain disorder.
(Home escapade.Cerebral palsy: A comprehensive medical guide about cerebral palsy syndrome. Retrieved http://www.homeescapade.com)
While on one of my placements at a special needs school I had an opportunity to briefly work with children who had cerebral palsy, from kindergarten age to teenagers with a wide range of needs. I acted as my supervisors shadow who was a full time occupational therapist at this special needs school and had a case load of about 70 children whom she managed to see at least once every two weeks. Given that this was the case it was evident how important it was for the child’s family, care giver and teacher to be well educated in order to implement long lasting rehab that had a clear focus on the child’s individual needs. Often the child only got to spend half an hour or less one on one time with the OT due to time and resource limitations. I couldn’t help but wonder how much of a difference it would make if the therapist could offer that child their full attention and have all those one on one sessions two or three times a week, just how much would they improve then?! And why aren’t they receiving this type of therapy when it is so crucial to helping them improve and maintain functioning. It was then that I realised that those who aren’t necessarily health professionals are equally as important to the child’s health and functioning.
(Home escapade.Cerebral palsy: A comprehensive medical guide about cerebral palsy syndrome. Retrieved http://www.homeescapade.com)
While on one of my placements at a special needs school I had an opportunity to briefly work with children who had cerebral palsy, from kindergarten age to teenagers with a wide range of needs. I acted as my supervisors shadow who was a full time occupational therapist at this special needs school and had a case load of about 70 children whom she managed to see at least once every two weeks. Given that this was the case it was evident how important it was for the child’s family, care giver and teacher to be well educated in order to implement long lasting rehab that had a clear focus on the child’s individual needs. Often the child only got to spend half an hour or less one on one time with the OT due to time and resource limitations. I couldn’t help but wonder how much of a difference it would make if the therapist could offer that child their full attention and have all those one on one sessions two or three times a week, just how much would they improve then?! And why aren’t they receiving this type of therapy when it is so crucial to helping them improve and maintain functioning. It was then that I realised that those who aren’t necessarily health professionals are equally as important to the child’s health and functioning.
Rather than being guided by a health professional, children’s
health is guided by the parent and a family centred approach is often more
appropriate. Many service providers have now adopted this approach as they
recognise the importance in respecting the parent as the expert in regards to
the child and their needs (Jeglinsky, I., Autti-Ramo, I., & Brogren Carlberg, E. 2011).
From an occupational therapy perspective, our concern
is the performance context and enabling the child to function effectively
within a range of environments. Clinicians teach parents/teachers/carers the
skills and patterns that promote pro-social behaviour and decrease maladaptive
behaviours. By embedding child interventions in to daily family life they
remain consistent in order to optimize child outcomes (Whittingham, K., Wee, D., & Boyd, R. 2010).
Is the family centred approach the most appropriate and
effective approach to therapy for children with cerebral palsy or are there
other alternatives? And how can we ensure that it is effectively implemented in
order to keep up treatment for the child?
References
Jeglinsky, I., Autti-Ramo, I., & Brogren Carlberg, E. (2011). Professional background and the comprehension of family-centredness of rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy. Child: Care, Health and Development. 38(1) 70-78. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01211x.
Kramer, P., & Hinojosa, J. (1999). Frames of reference for paediatric occupational therapy (2nd ed). Philadelphia, USA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Whittingham, K., Wee, D., & Boyd, R. (2010) Systematic review of the efficacy of parenting interventions for children with cerebral palsy. Child: care, health and development 37(4) 475-483 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01212.x.
References
Jeglinsky, I., Autti-Ramo, I., & Brogren Carlberg, E. (2011). Professional background and the comprehension of family-centredness of rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy. Child: Care, Health and Development. 38(1) 70-78. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01211x.
Kramer, P., & Hinojosa, J. (1999). Frames of reference for paediatric occupational therapy (2nd ed). Philadelphia, USA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Whittingham, K., Wee, D., & Boyd, R. (2010) Systematic review of the efficacy of parenting interventions for children with cerebral palsy. Child: care, health and development 37(4) 475-483 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01212.x.
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