Introduction: Worldwide, approximately 240 million children with disabilities (CwD) experience limitations in function and participation. Literature shows assistive and adaptive devices (AAD) can improve function and participation for CwD and reduce caregiver burden. However, provision of AAD is limited by personnel, lack of training, insurance/payment, and time constraints.
Objective: To evaluate the impact of providing customized low-cost AAD to CwD and its impact on function and participation.
Methods: Twenty CwD aged 2-17 years (Male = 12, Female = 8) were recruited. Their impairments included orthopedic, intellectual, language, autism, learning, and multiple disabilities. CwD were recruited from community organizations and schools with parental and caregiver permission. Comprehensive evaluations were conducted including the occupational profile, motor, sensory, and cognitive assessments to identify a customized AAD to meet a functional need that could be built using low-cost triwall cardboard. Outcome measures PEM-CY (Participation and Environment Measure – Children and Youth) and CASP (Children and Adolescent Scale of Participation) were administered during the initial assessment and six weeks after device delivery.
Results: The PEM-CY generates 7 subscores each for the home, community and school while the CASP generates 4 subscores for the home, community, independent living, and school. Results showed significant differences in activity involvement as measured by the PEM-CY for the home (p=0.41), community (p=0.43), and school (p=0.37).
Conclusion: AAD if customized, and even if built using low-cost materials have the potential to support CwD activity involvement and participation in their desired occupations and should be used as an intervention by occupational therapists to support CwD.