Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the parent-perceived effect of adaptive seating devices
on the lives of young children with cerebral palsy (CP) (aged 2-7y) and their
families. DESIGN: Baseline-intervention-baseline study. SETTING: Homes of
participating families. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty parents and their children with
Gross Motor Function Classification System level III or IV CP. INTERVENTIONS: Two
special-purpose seating devices: 1 for sitting support on the floor or on a chair
and the other for postural control on a toilet. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Family
Impact of Assistive Technology Scale (FIATS) and Impact on Family Scale (IFS).
RESULTS: Thirty parents (29 mothers, 1 father) and their children with CP
participated. Repeated-measures analysis of variance detected significant mean
differences among the FIATS scores (F(1.4,40.6)=19.25, P<.001). Post hoc testing
confirmed significant mean differences in overall FIATS scores between baseline
and intervention and intervention and postintervention phases. The test of
within-subject effects did not detect a significant change among IFS mean scores.
CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of adaptive seating devices for young children who
need support to sit had a meaningful, positive impact on child and family life.
Removal of the study devices showed a concomitant negative impact on key aspects
of child and family life. Environmental resources, such as seating and other
assistive technology devices, may have an important role to play in the lives of
young children with physical disabilities and their families.

Langue : ANGLAIS