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It's Not Just Me. Parents' Perceptions of a Multi-Disciplinary Therapy Group for Infants with Disabilities
Susan Bowman1,2, Catherine Evans1
1a Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
Insights
Parents found Baby Club, a therapeutic program for infants with physical disabilities, valuable for learning, support, and therapist expertise. The program fosters skill development and social connection in a supportive group setting.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Disabilities
- Therapeutic Interventions
Background:
- Infants with physical disabilities under two years require specialized therapeutic interventions.
- Parental involvement and support are crucial for the development and well-being of these children.
- Existing therapeutic programs may not fully address the multifaceted needs of both the child and the family.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore parent perceptions of the Baby Club program.
- To understand how the Baby Club program addresses the needs of infants with physical disabilities and their families.
- To identify key components contributing to the program's effectiveness from a parental perspective.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative descriptive study design.
- Semi-structured interviews with eight parents who attended the Baby Club program.
- Content analysis of interview transcripts to identify overarching themes.
Main Results:
- Parents perceived Baby Club as a valuable "Learning Together through Play and Fun" experience.
- Parents reported a strong sense of community and reduced isolation, highlighted by the theme "I'm Not the Only One - Sharing and Support."
- Parents highly valued the "Therapist Time and Expertise" provided within the program.
Conclusions:
- Baby Club effectively supports parents and infants by facilitating skill acquisition through play-based activities.
- The program offers crucial social experiences and networking opportunities for families.
- Baby Club creates a supportive therapeutic group environment that enhances child and family well-being.
Abstract:
Aim: To explore parent perceptions of Baby Club, a therapeutic program involving physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy for infants with physical disabilities under 2 years and to better understand how the group addresses child and family needs. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured interviews and a brief demographics questionnaire. Eight parents who attended a Baby Club program between 2017 and 2018 were recruited from ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and de-identified. A content analysis approach was used with an inductive process to generate a coding scheme. Investigators developed overarching themes. Results: Three themes representing parents' perceptions of Baby Club were identified: (1) Learning Together through Play and Fun; (2) I'm Not the Only One - Sharing and Support; (3) The Value of Therapist Time and Expertise. Conclusions: Baby Club provides parents and infants with opportunities to learn new skills through play, providing enriching social experiences and networking in a supportive therapeutic group environment.