Disabilities, Volume 3, Issue 3 (September 2023) – 8 articles

Purpose: Collaboration that engages diverse stakeholders to actively participate in the rehabilitation research process is becoming a crucially important approach when the purpose is to promote well-being in everyday life. The aim of this study was to co-develop a partnership-based participation model for research with stakeholders such as researchers, rehabilitees, close ones, rehabilitation professionals and experts by experience. Methods: We applied an action research approach. The Participatory Research Partnership (PaRe) model was co-developed in a multi-phase process including a literature review, workshops and focus group discussions (64 participants). The model was tested, evaluated and further developed in a developmental training process with 50 experts in rehabilitation. Results: The PaRe model consists of five phases: (1) starting the research partnership; (2) building a research team; (3) reciprocal co-planning of research; (4) co-production of new research data; and (5) utilization of research data in everyday life. The model comprises examples and templates including developmental and ethical evaluation. Conclusions: The PaRe model enhances co-agency, interaction and co-learning in rehabilitation research and practices. Active participation of users and providers of rehabilitation services in scientific research promotes everyday accessibility and relevance of research-based knowledge. The model ensures that the research process and results are meaningful and empowering for the participants. Full article

Backround: The collaboration of families, therapists and educationalists has been found to be an important factor in the successful rehabilitation of children with intellectual disabilities. Previous studies have focused on the effects of therapies and the perspectives of parents on collaboration in rehabilitiation. This study aims to describe the facilitators of, and barriers to, collaboration with adults in enhancing the participation of children with intellectual disabilities in education environments. Methods: In a qualitative study, the data were collected in 2021–2022 through individual interviews with parents (n = 16), focus group interviews (n = 17) with education professionals and an online survey tool with open-ended questions from therapists (n = 309). The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Two overaching themes were identified: the prerequisites of collaboration and the sharing of expertise in collaboration from the perspective of all the participants, which included the factors facilitating and hindering collaboration. Conclusions: In optimizing the benefits of collaboration, all these themes are essential to enhancing functioning and participation. There is a need for the development of participatory practises to improve and intensify collaboration. The development of collaboration and practises should be supported by the managers. Digital solutions should be further explored in order to improve the partnership of adults and children. Full article

Radical transformation of Ireland’s special education system has occurred over the past three decades. National and international policy and legislative drivers for a more inclusive approach to education have resulted in greater levels of mainstreaming, with one exception. Provision for autistic children is increasingly provided through special classes: discrete classes attached to mainstream schools. This paper presents findings from a qualitative exploration of the benefits and challenges attributed to autism class provision in mainstream primary schools in Ireland, from the perspective of teachers and school principals. The findings reveal a role for autism special class teachers that is multi-faceted, rewarding, challenging, and directly related to the extent to which the special class is systematically included with whole school policy and practice. The significance of leadership and collaboration in promoting inclusive approaches to autism class provision features strongly in the findings and influences schools’ willingness to establish special classes. Micro-exclusion emerged as a theme and is linked to school culture and ethos. Findings contribute unique perspectives of school personnel, and recommendations create awareness of the benefits and challenges associated with autism special class provision and inform future innovation at a time when inclusive policy agendas and practices relating to autism provision arguably contradict each other. Full article

Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) rely significantly on the use of assistive devices (ADs) to increase independence and enhance participation. This study aimed to determine the most important ADs for persons with SCI living in Switzerland and to identify design features of potentially novel ADs greatly facilitating persons with SCI in performing the tasks of daily life. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze cross-sectional data (N = 1294 participants) from the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study 2017. Open-ended questions regarding the importance of ADs and desirable novel ADs were manually coded and assigned to categories. The results showed that the most important ADs for persons with SCI were a manual wheelchair (61%), an adapted car (46%), and a wheelchair tractor (20%). The importance of ADs varied with gender, age, and SCI severity. While none of the participants indicated a desire for a completely novel AD, over one-fifth described specific design features of novel ADs or adaptions of existing ADs, which were most often related to facilitating transfer (12%), walking support (10%), and facilitating access (9%). These findings have implications for the design and development of ADs to better meet the needs of persons with SCI, improve their quality of life, and promote their independence and participation in daily activities. Full article

Introduction: Rehabilitation practices that adopt a strengths-based perspective are known as transdisciplinary evidence-based practices. However, little is known about whether and how such a perspective is experienced by people living with a neurological condition during their rehabilitation. Objective: To explore how core components of a strengths-based rehabilitation perspective (i.e., hope, self-determination, and mobilization of personal strengths) are envisioned and experienced in outpatient-based rehabilitation by adults living with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury. Methods: A descriptive exploratory study with mixed data collection was conducted with adults living with spinal cord injury (n = 9) or multiple sclerosis (n = 11). Participants completed two semi-structured interviews and the Recovery Promoting Relationship Scale (RPRS). The qualitative analysis relied on a hybrid inductive and deductive approach. Results: Four themes depict a strengths-based rehabilitation perspective: (1) The mobilization of personal strengths (e.g., what a strengths-based perspective could offer); (2) hope (e.g., what hinders hope in rehabilitation); (3) accessing information for decision-making (e.g., navigating the system); and (4) exercising self-determination (e.g., influencing the length or intensity of rehabilitation services). Conclusions: Hope, self-determination, and the mobilization of personal strengths are of the utmost importance throughout the rehabilitation of adults living with multiple sclerosis and or spinal cord injury. This paper raises awareness about elements specific to the contexts in which services are offered or to the therapeutic relationships influencing how these three strength-based constructs are envisioned and experienced in rehabilitation. Full article

Article 30 (5a) of the UNCRPD states that participation in mainstream sport should be a right for all individuals. However, many disabled people still face barriers to participation, and provision remains segregated and/or determined, at least in part, by the nature and degree of impairment. This paper explores the Mixed Ability (MA) model as an innovative approach to facilitating disabled people’s participation in, and engagement with, mainstream sport. It outlines findings from an evaluation of the Sport England-funded Mixed Ability Sport Development Programme, which saw the MA model trialed in a variety of sports. A participatory research design was employed to generate data with key stakeholder groups involved in the design and delivery of programme activities, as well as with MA participants. Analysis of the data identified three core themes: (i) defining MA sport; (ii) the impacts of MA sport; and (iii) challenges and enablers of MA sport. In discussing these, it is argued that the MA model can be a powerful approach to inclusion and help to shape meaningful change. Indeed, the data suggest that the impacts of MA activities can extend beyond the individual level and influence shifts in both sports club culture and wider perceptions around disability. The paper closes by considering the implications of the research and outlines recommendations for future practice in this area. Full article

While there are many benefits to healthy nutrition, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities often have poor nutrition habits. Identifying effective practices to promote healthy nutrition for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is critical. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of a health app and self-management intervention in supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in making healthier nutrition choices. A changing criterion single-case research design was used with three adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to determine if there was a functional relation between a health app and self-management intervention, and the number of healthy food and drink items purchased when grocery shopping. The combination of the health app with self-management intervention was effective in increasing the number of healthy food and drink items two participants bought at the grocery store. Participants reported that they enjoyed using the app, scanning food and drink items was fun, and the goal-setting and self-monitoring components were easy to understand. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. Full article

This study investigated the experiences of people with disabilities during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted individually with 13 participants between May 2020 and February 2021. The data were thematically analyzed. Three themes were identified: (1) “Being an active agent in changing how things are done in the face of COVID restrictions”, revealed changes that participants made to their daily routines resulting from government-imposed and self-imposed restrictions; (2) “Pandemic restrictions wreak havoc”, explained participants challenges with adapting to the restrictions; and (3) “Trying to be resilient in the face of pandemic changes” described participants’ efforts to cope with life during the pandemic. The findings illustrate how life changed for people with disabilities during the pandemic. Participants reported specific types of challenges at each time point. As the vaccine rollout became more imminent, participants expressed more hope for the future and getting back to normal. Full article