Pedalling towards inclusion and participation: learning from children and their parents about their experiences with...

Social participation is significantly limited for children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Many social participation opportunities are derived from physical activities, which may be restricted for children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Adapted bikes play a crucial role in facilitating physical activity. This study aims to investigate the experience of children with neurodevelopmental conditions and the impact of adapted bike use on enabling physical activity and social participation.

A qualitative descriptive approach was used to examine the experiences of seven children aged 6 to 14 with neurodevelopmental conditions and their parents. We conducted semi-structured interviews with the seven child-parent dyads and analysed the data using reflexive thematic analysis.

Based on the analysis, five themes were identified and labelled as 1) Pedalling towards inclusion and participation 2) Gearing up, 3) Essential skills and gains from biking, 4) Riding on different paths, and 5) Resources for biking.

Adapted bikes can enhance inclusion and social participation. Achieving this requires a proper bike fit, the development of biking skills, consideration of bikers' diverse backgrounds and contexts, and access to necessary resources. By implementing these elements, more opportunities for social participation can be created and inclusion promoted.