Moving around and getting places is a skill that empowers us to be independent and to participate in and enjoy life. We need to move safely and efficiently to be fit and to function in life. Most of us take our ability to move and get around (our mobility) for granted. For children with a disability moving around can be delayed or not happen at all without the support of appropriate assistive technology (walking frames, powered wheelchairs etc). Physiotherapists are movement specialists who love to see children develop their movement skills to their full potential so they can stay fit and healthy and do what matters to them.
The International Classification of Functioning (ICF) is a framework developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2001 and it shows us the interaction between different factors that impact on a person’s overall health and functioning in life. The ‘F-words of childhood disability’ developed in 2011 by Dr Rosenbaum and Dr Gorter (researchers from CanChild) builds upon the ICF and gives us 6 key areas of childhood development to help families and therapists understand the bigger picture and how to set goals for their children that are meaningful and relate to activity and participation. Find out more from CanChild
