Strategies that facilitate participation in family activities of children and adolescents with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: Parents' and personal assistants' experiences
This study identified ways to facilitate participation in family activities for children and adolescents with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Interviews revealed participation-facilitating strategies related to the child's/adolescent's environment:  "Availability and acceptability of the activity", "Good knowledge about the child", "A positive attitude of people close to the child". Also identified were strategies related to the children/adolescents themselves: "Sense of belonging", "Possible for the child/adolescent to understand", "Opportunities to influence" and "Feeling of being needed". Children and adolescents with intellectual and multiple disabilities are dependent on support obtained through their environment. Published in Disability & Rehabilitation. Authors: AK Axelsson, C Imms, J Wilder. Abstract.

Determinants of self-care participation of young children with cerebral palsy
Investigators with the Move & PLAY study tested a model of child, family and service determinants of self-care participation of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Participants were a convenience sample of 429 children with CP, aged 18-60 months. Data on impairments, gross motor function, children's health conditions and adaptive behavior were collected at Time 1. One year after study onset, parents documented children's self-care participation. The data were analyzed using structural equation modelling. Results: Children with higher motor function, fewer health conditions and higher levels of adaptive behaviour demonstrated greater self-care participation. Published in Developmental Neurorehabilitation. Authors: DJ Bartlett, LA Chiarello, SW McCoy, RJ Palisano, L Jeffries, AL Fiss, P Wilk. Abstract.

Key health outcomes for children and young people with neurodisability: Qualitative research with young people and parents
This aim of this qualitative research study was to identify key health outcomes perceived as important to children and young people with neurodisability, and their parents. Fifty-four children and young people participated and fifty-three parents participated. Results: Aspects of health most valued were communication, mobility, pain, self-care, temperament (mood and anxiety), relationships, community and social life, emotional wellbeing, self-care, independence and future aspirations. Parents also felt their child's sleep, behaviour, and safety were important. These key outcomes provide a basis for selecting appropriate health indicators and outcome measures. Published in BMJ Open. Authors: A Allard, A Fellowes, V Shilling, A Janssens, B Beresford, C Morris. Full access! View PenCRU's plain english summary here.  

Emerging therapy approaches: An emphasis on function
The focus of therapy interventions for children with cerebral palsy has changed from "fixing a deficit" to promoting functional independence and participation and recognizing children's spontaneous adaptive movement solutions. In this article, factors that have influenced emerging intervention approaches are discussed. These factors include family-centered philosophy, changing definitions of disability, the ICF framework of health status, new outcome measures and contemporary theories of motor development. New research findings indicate that rehabilitation interventions embracing family-centered services and focusing on functional improvement can be more effective in promoting participation. Published in Journal of Child Neurology. Authors: M Law, J Darrah. Abstract.

Classification in childhood disability: Focusing on function in the 21st Century
The authors of this article have developed and validated classification systems for specific aspects of everyday function in children and youth with cerebral palsy: gross motor function, manual ability, and communicative function. These classification systems are complementary to traditional biomechanical descriptions of disorders and disabilities. This article describes the tools, their development, reliability, validity, utility and clinical applicability.  The use of these tools for research, and the uptake and impact that they have had around the world is also discussed. Published in Journal of Child Neurology. Authors: P Rosenbaum, AC EliassonC, MJ Hidecker, RJ Palisano. Abstract.