How Mothers of Preschool Children with Cerebral Palsy Perceive Occupational and Physical Therapists and Their Influence on Family Life

Occupational and physical therapists are among the professionals who extensively prescribe home programs for habilitating children with cerebral palsy. This exploratory ethnographic study investigated eight mothers' perceptions of what happens in their family when a preschool child diagnosed with cerebral palsy is receiving occupational and/or physical therapy. Data on each mother's experience with home programs was collected through intensive interviews and observation. Analysis, using a variety of qualitative techniques, led to identification of eight major themes: 1) What Home Programs?; 2) If I Only Had a 25-Hour Day; 3) We Together; 4) What Does Daddy Do?; 5) The Long Shadow; 6) Therapy, Therapy, Therapy; 7) The Third Patient; and 8) The Roller Coaster.