The Pediatric Physical Therapist's Role in Promoting and Measuring Participation in Children With Disabilities

In Brief Purpose: The purposes of this article were to discuss participation relative to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY) model, evaluate 3 current pediatric participation measures that have been designed to assess participation, and review research findings relevant to participation in children and adolescents with disabilities. Key Points: The concept of participation has been challenging to define and measure. Successful participation of children and adolescents with disabilities in daily life activities is influenced by individual, family, and environmental factors. Currently available tools designed to measure participation of children and adolescents have strengths and limitations, which should be considered when selecting tools for use in clinical practice. Conclusion: Pediatric physical therapists can increase participation of children and adolescents with disabilities by measuring and promoting meaningful outcomes in the individual, family, and environmental components of the ICF-CY. The authors' evaluation of the few measures of participation currently available for children with disabilities led them to conclude that therapists can promote participation in children and use these measures to document the effects of their interventions.