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Autism spectrum disorder is associated with diverse social, educational, and occupational challenges. To date, no standardized, internationally accepted tools exist to assess autism spectrum disorder-related functioning. World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health can serve as foundation for developing such tools. This study aimed to identify a comprehensive, a common brief, and three age-appropriate brief autism spectrum disorder Core Sets. Four international preparatory studies yielded in total 164 second-level International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health candidate categories. Based on this evidence, 20 international autism spectrum disorder experts applied an established iterative decision-making consensus process to select from the candidate categories the most relevant ones to constitute the autism spectrum disorder Core Sets. The consensus process generated 111 second-level International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health categories in the Comprehensive Core Set for autism spectrum disorder--one body structure, 20 body functions, 59 activities and participation categories, and 31 environmental factors. The Common Brief Core Set comprised 60 categories, while the age-appropriate core sets included 73 categories in the preschool version (0- to 5-year-old children), 81 in the school-age version (6- to 16-year-old children and adolescents), and 79 in the older adolescent and adult version (?17-year-old individuals). The autism spectrum disorder Core Sets mark a milestone toward the standardized assessment of autism spectrum disorder-related functioning in educational, administrative, clinical, and research settings.

This is the fourth international preparatory study designed to develop International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF, and Children and Youth version, ICF-CY) Core Sets for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Examine functioning of individuals diagnosed with ASD as documented by the ICF-CY in a variety of clinical settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 11 units from 10 countries. Clinical investigators assessed functioning of 122 individuals with ASD using the ICF-CY checklist. In total, 139 ICF-CY categories were identified: 64 activities and participation, 40 body functions and 35 environmental factors. The study results reinforce the heterogeneity of ASD, as evidenced by the many functional and contextual domains impacting on ASD from a clinical perspective.

Background: Children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) demand intense family accommodations from birth and onwards. This study used an exploratory and qualitative study design to investigate stability and change in sustainability of daily routines and social networks of Swedish families of children with PIMD. Materials and Methods: Eight families participated over two years in eco-cultural family interviews and social networks interviews collected at home visits. Data were analyzed descriptively and by manifest contents analysis. Results: Results showed variations in sustainability of daily routines over time across families. The sustainability was linked to fathers' involvement, couples' connectedness and emotional support. Stability and change of social networks were characterized by low overlap between the child and family networks, the children's communicative dependency and low density of able communication partners. Conclusions: The results indicate that patterns of stability and change were linked both to family resources and child characteristics.

Background: Children with a mild intellectual disability (ID) and their families often require social services; however, because of the characteristics of the formal service system, these families may be at risk of not receiving necessary services. The aim of this study was to obtain knowledge regarding the types and number of services that families receive from social services because of the child's disability and because of social problems. Another aim was to acquire knowledge regarding the percentage of families receiving services and to evaluate the received services in relation to the child's gender, school setting and age. Method: Utilisation of social services among 84 children with a mild ID and their families in two municipalities in Sweden was examined using existing social services records. Results: Approximately one-third of the families received services because of the child's disability and one-fourth because of social problems. Children integrated into mainstream classes were significantly less likely to receive services from social services because of their disability than children in self-contained classes. The most commonly utilised services because of the child's disability were companion service, short period of supervision for schoolchildren and special transportation services. The services most utilised because of social problems were help from a personal contact, a contact family for the child's siblings and financial assistance for the child's parents. Conclusions: Social services must engage in outreach activities, especially in schools, so that families having a child with mild ID are recognised and receive necessary services.

Problem solving is recognized as a skill, helping families of children with disabilities to manage problems in everyday life. Family problem-solving skills may therefore be seen as an important outcome of a child and youth habilitation service. The aim of this pilot feasibility study was to examine the design of a future web-based questionnaire study focusing on problem-solving patterns in relation to resources in families of children with disabilities. The descriptive statistical analyses built on data from 13 families and findings showed an overall satisfactory score distribution for three of the included instruments, whereas two instruments showed floor effects in one third of the items. Findings indicated design problems with data collection related to adapting questionnaires to a web-based survey format and to problems with the stop function that was added. Implementing the main study using web-based surveys needs critical considerations according to the choice of the web tool and the recruitment process.

Background: Children with developmental disabilities, e.g. intellectual disability or autism, are reported to have problems in time perception, time orientation or time management, i.e. in time-processing ability (TPA). The aim was to investigate whether the problems described are diagnosis specific or reflect differences in age or in level of TPA. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, this study investigated if there were different patterns of TPA in 5- to 10-year-old children with (n = 77) and without disabilities (n = 89). The results indicated that the patterns of TPA mainly follow the chronological age of children without disabilities, all clusters differing as regards levels of TPA. Daily time management (as estimated by the parents) and children's self-rated autonomy differed between clusters and was related to TPA. Conclusions: The level of TPA seems to be a more valid overall base than the type of diagnosis for the planning of interventions in daily time management.

A multiple case study is reported aiming at identifying the degree of taking part and of being engaged in classroom activities for children with and without reading and writing difficulties/dyslexia. The aim was also to investigate the accordance between "effective literacy teaching" and children's expressed interest and observed taking part and engagement in different kinds of activities. The study is exploratory and the generalizability of the results limited. Three observations each were made of five children with reading and writing difficulties/dyslexia and five comparison children; the observations concerned accessibility, taking part in and engagement with two types of classroom activities, namely basic skills training and practice of higher-level language skills as a means of thinking at a higher level. The results are presented in relation to quality criteria for teachers' effective literacy teaching. Results found that the instruction was concerned more with the practice of basic skills in reading and writing than practice of the language as a means of thinking at a higher level for all children, and the children with reading and writing difficulties were less engaged in reading and writing skills training than the comparison children, but took part equally well in activities focused on practice of the language at a higher level. Most of the teachers had lower expectations regarding those children with reading and writing difficulties than children without reading and writing difficulties. The results are discussed in relation to the goals in the subject Swedish. (Contains 4 tables and 1 note.)

This article discusses in-service training of Swedish professionals in family-centered intervention for families with children with disabilities. The training, which has been implemented on an interdisciplinary team basis in the context of ordinary habilitation services, is described as one of several options for fostering improvement within an organization. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

The Australian Centre for Health, Independence, Economic participation and Value Enhanced care for adolescents and young adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP-ACHIEVE) is a Centre of Research Excellence (CRE), funded for 5-year by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. The vision of CP-ACHIEVE is an Australia where people with cerebral palsy receive excellent healthcare throughout their lives and live in, and contribute to, supportive communities that welcome and enable their participation. CP-ACHIEVE began with the ethical commitment to bring together people with lived experience of cerebral palsy, researchers, and health professionals to develop and conduct research informed by, and relevant to, people with cerebral palsy and their allies. From inception, co-research and collaboration with (not 'to' or 'about') young people with cerebral palsy (10 to 30 years of age) and their families has been central to our work. In this paper, we describe the CP-ACHIEVE values, structure and strategy for this approach, and its implementation at each stage of the research process. We then provide an example of the strategy in action, using a qualitative exploration of CP-ACHIEVE's Participation Theme team's experiences of collaboration and involvement as co-researchers. Active participation in research for young people with lived experience of cerebral palsy and their families is a fundamental human right, based on their right to be active agents in decisions that affect them. In this paper we explore how our collaborative approach, and the integration of diverse views, has enhanced the relevance, quality, usefulness, and translation of our research. We also describe (i) the structural elements of our research group that have facilitated our work together, (ii) our challenges, and (iii) how the ownership of our research by people with cerebral palsy is driving future research directions and empowering involvement of people with lived experience beyond CP-ACHIEVE. We offer this knowledge and our experiences to assist other research teams in their journeys towards collaborative research alongside people with lived experience of disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The increased focus among researchers and professionals on participation as an explicit intervention outcome has prompted a paradigm shift in both thought and practice. However, much research centers on altering participation outcomes in specific life situations and stages. This discussion paper considers "participation as a means" in pediatric rehabilitation and special education interventions, emphasizing its role in achieving lasting outcomes. Method: This paper uses a Venn diagram approach to consider relations between three core concepts--participation, intervention, and outcomes--and their intersection. The paper's central theme revolves around the intersection of these concepts, wherein participation serves as a means to achieve enduring participation outcomes within the realms of rehabilitation and special education. The discussion is supported by contemporary empirical work and from literature identified in two recent scoping reviews focusing on the intervention process. Results: Achieving enduring participation outcomes through participation in the intervention process necessitates creating a learning experience, with children and families actively participating in every step: identifying participation issues, seeking explanations, prioritizing intervention goals, selecting methods, implementing interventions, and evaluating the process and outcomes. Discussion: This structured approach supports professionals and researchers to foster the skills and capacity required for lasting participation outcomes for children with impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2022, an international conference was held focusing on 'participation'. We shared current evidence, identified knowledge gaps and worked together to understand what new knowledge and community and practice changes were needed. This brief communication is a summary of the conference delegates' discussions. We present the key assumptions we make about participation and propose what is needed to create change for societies, communities, families and individuals. While we have some robust evidence to support participation approaches, more is needed, and it is everyone's responsibility to build an inclusive society where participation for all is the reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eye-gaze assistive technology offers children with severe motor and communication difficulties the opportunity to access and control a computer through eye movements. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of eye-gaze assistive technology intervention on participation in computer activities and technology usability among children with complex needs in Taiwan. This study involved a multiple baseline design across individuals. The participants were four children aged three to six years with severe motor and communication difficulties and low eye-control skills. The six-month intervention consisted of two collaborative team meetings and 12 individual supports to facilitate the use of eye-gaze assistive technology at home or in educational environments. Participation in computer activities (diversity, frequency, and duration) was repeatedly measured through a computer use diary. Other outcomes included assessments of goal achievements and parents/teachers' ratings on children's performance in computer activities. The young children increased the diversity of their computer activities and their frequency and duration of computer use from baseline to the intervention phase. The children attained six of eight predefined goals related to play, communication, and school learning. Parents and teachers perceived the children's changes in performance as meaningful. This study strengthens the evidence that eye-gaze assistive technology is useful in everyday contexts for children with complex needs in Taiwan. The findings add knowledge that children with weak eye-control skills increased participation in computer activities as a result of the eye-gaze assistive technology. Eye-gaze assistive technology (EGAT) as an access method to control a computer can provide opportunities for children with severe motor and communication difficulties to participate in computer activities. Children with severe motor and communication difficulties and low eye-control skills with sufficient practice can learn to use EGAT for communication and learning, with support from stakeholders and collaborative service. EGAT could be introduced for children with complex needs at early ages as a means of using computers for play, communication, and school learning, which could be helpful for later education and learning. Stakeholders in educational environments could include EGAT in educational computer systems so that pupils with severe motor and communication difficulties could interact with a computer, thereby enhancing their engagement and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study purpose was to, with the help of ICF and the CPS model, describe and explain patterns of co-occurring problems with participation in everyday life activities, body functioning and environment for children who completed brain tumor treatment. Hospital, habilitation and school records for nine children (5–11 yrs.) diagnosed with brain tumor, were retrospectively reviewed for everyday problems after treatment completion. These problems were linked to ICF codes. Median code distribution within ICF constructs participation, body function, body structure, activity, and environment were calculated to generate typical (close to median) and atypical (distant from median) patterns of problems on individual and group levels. Two children were in-depth analyzed with collaborative problem-solving (CPS) model to identify participation problems and plausible explanations. In total, 4543 ICF linked codes revealed similarities and differences between individuals. The selected child-cases displayed educational challenges and peer-relational problems. The ICF codes related to activity, body function and environment revealed plausible explanations for the children's documented problems with participation in everyday life. The combination of ICF and CPS can provide a comprehensive view of the child's problems and guide development of participation in everyday life-focused interventions for children treated for brain tumors. Care should be guided by interventions and support directed at individual children and their everyday life. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework can support identification of the individual child's patterns of problems and how these affects the child's everyday life. It is recommended to start by identifying participation problems when using ICF to identify and describe problems in children's natural settings. The collaborative problem-solving model can guide healthcare, habilitation and school services when identifying and acting on typical and atypical problem patterns experienced by these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge is limited on attendance and involvement of perceived participation of children with long-term health conditions. To evaluate the perceived participation of children with long-term health conditions and to compare their participation with that of healthy peers. A cross-sectional comparative study was designed using self-reported data from 65 children with long-term health conditions and from 65 healthy peers, utilising the simplified Chinese version of Picture My Participation (PMP-C; Simplified). The frequency scores of children with long-term health conditions were significantly lower than those of healthy peers in terms of attendance for the total domain and for 13 activity items. The involvement scores of children with long-term health conditions were significantly lower than those of healthy children in 3 items. There was a strong correlation between rank orders of the most important activities for the two groups (r = 0.83). Children with long-term health conditions participated less in activities compared to healthy children. Further studies are required to investigate factors of the participation of children. The PMP-C (Simplified) offered an opportunity for children to express their own perspectives of participation based on their individual experience of the activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are vulnerable and participate less in everyday activities compared to their peers with typical development. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators related to the participation in everyday activities of children with IDs in China. Methods: Twenty semi‐structured interviews were conducted with primary caregivers of children with IDs from special schools in Tianjin, China. The data were transcribed and analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Results: Four categories of barriers to participation in everyday activities for children with IDs were identified: insufficient knowledge, attitudes and skills in primary caregivers; ID‐related characteristics of children; stigma and Chinese culture; and lack of support from society. Four categories describing facilitators of participation in everyday activities for children with IDs were also identified: the optimistic attitude of the primary caregiver; adequate family support; active environment in school and policy; and attractive characteristics of children with IDs. Conclusions: The findings in this study add knowledge on important barriers and facilitators affecting the participation of children with IDs in everyday activities in China. The primary caregivers' voices need to be heard by government and society. Appropriate and effective changes in family‐oriented services and the legal, social, political and economic context of the child welfare management system for the scale‐up of improving participation should be implemented for children with IDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Picture My Participation (PmP) is a promising instrument for measuring the participation in everyday situations of children with intellectual disability (ID), particularly in low- and middle-income countries. To explore test-retest reliability of PmP by comparing two repeated measurements of children with ID in an urban context in South Africa. A picture-supported interview with 31 children with ID, aged 7–17 years, was conducted twice, two weeks apart. The children rated their participation, operationalised as attendance and involvement, in 20 everyday activities. Analyses were completed for total scores, for the four subcomponents and at item level. Test-retest agreement at an item level for both attendance and involvement showed slight/fair agreement for most activities (Kappa = 0.01–0.40), and moderate agreement for some activities (Kappa = 0.41–0.60). Moderate agreement was shown for the total scale and at component level (ICC = 0.5–0.75), except for (firstly) attendance of and involvement in 'Family Activities' (ICC = 0.26 for attendance, 0.33 for involvement), and (secondly) involvement in 'Personal Activities' (ICC = 0.33). The result indicates that PmP can reliably be used at component level and as a screening tool for intervention planning to identify participation and participation restrictions in children with ID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preschool children's engagement/social interaction skills can be seen as aspects of positive functioning, and also act as protective aspects of functioning. On the other hand, hyperactivity/conduct problems are risk aspects that negatively affect children's everyday functioning. Few studies have investigated such orchestrated effects on mental health in young children over time. The aims of the study are first, to identify homogeneous groups of children having similar pathways in mental health between three time points. Second, to examine how children move between time points in relation to risk and protective factors. Alongitudinal study over 3 years, including 197 Swedish preschool children was used. Questionnaire data collected from preschool teachers. Statistical analysis using person‐oriented methods with repeated cluster analyses. Children high in engagement/social skills and low in conduct problems continue to function well. Children with low engagement/social skills exhibiting both hyperactivity and conduct problems continue to have problems. Children with mixed patterns of protective factors and risk factors showed mixed outcomes. The stability of children's pathways was quite high if they exhibited many positive protective factors but also if they exhibited many risk factors. Children exhibiting a mixed pattern of protective and risk factors moved between clusters in a less predictable way. That stability in mental health was related to the simultaneous occurrence of either many protective factors or many risk factors supports the notion of orchestrated effects. The results indicate that early interventions need to have a dual focus, including both interventions aimed at enhancing child engagement and interventions focused on decreasing behavior problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate if the type of class setting is related to the utilisation of disability-related services and child welfare services outside school over time among children with mild intellectual disability (ID). A quantitative study with a longitudinal and comparative design was carried out including data from archival records concerning service utilisation among 405 children. Children in special classes were more likely than children integrated into regular classes to utilise disability-related services. Integrated children who changed school setting from regular classes to special classes were more likely to begin to utilise such services and to increase the number of services utilised, compared to children who remained integrated. Professionals in social services and schools may need to improve their collaboration around families of children with mild ID when assessing needs and providing services. Special attention may need to be devoted to children integrated into regular classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Everyday routines play a vital role in child functioning and development. This study explored health professionals' documentation of everyday life and health care during the first year following gastrostomy tube placement in children and the content of intervention goals. Methods: The medical records of 39 children (median age 38 months, min–max: 15–192) in one region of Sweden were analysed. A content analysis approach was used with an inductive qualitative analysis supplemented by a deductive, quantitative analysis of documented intervention goals following the ICF-CY. Results: One overall theme, "Seeking a balance", captured the view of life with a gastrostomy and the health care provided. Two categories, "Striving for physical health" and "Depicting everyday life" with seven sub-categories, captured the key aspects of the documentation. Twenty-one children (54%) had intervention goals related to the gastrostomy, and these goals primarily focused on the ICF-CY component "Body functions". Conclusions: To some extent the medical records reflected different dimensions of everyday life, but the intervention goals clearly focused on bodily aspects. Understanding how health care for children using a gastrostomy is documented and planned by applying an ecocultural framework adds a valuable perspective and can contribute to family-centred interventions for children using a gastrostomy. There is a need for increased awareness in healthcare professionals for a more consistent and holistic healthcare approach in the management of children with gastrostomy tube feeding. This study suggests that an expanded focus on children's participation in everyday mealtimes and in the healthcare follow-up of gastrostomy tube feeding is important in enhancing the intervention outcome. Multidisciplinary teams with a shared bio-psycho-social understanding of health would contribute to a situation in which the everyday lives of households adapt to living with gastrostomy. Routine care for children with gastrostomy should follow a checklist combining crucial physiological aspects of gastrostomy tube feeding with seemingly mundane family functions in order to achieve a successful gastrostomy tube feeding intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between school nurses' self‐assessed cultural competence in health visits with children of foreign origin and demographic variables, by using a cross‐sectional design. A Web‐based questionnaire assessing cultural competence and demographic variables was distributed to a nationally representative sample (n = 816) of school nurses in Sweden. Data were analyzed using regression analysis. School nurses assessed themselves as culturally aware and moderately culturally competent, but not as culturally knowledgeable, culturally skilled, or comfortable in cultural encounters. Cultural competence was related to education in cultural diversity, how often nurses encounter children of foreign origin, and nurses' country of origin. In total, these variables explained 23.6% of the variation in school nurses' cultural competence. Because school nurses regard themselves as moderately culturally competent, a foundation for promoting children's health on equal terms in school health care exists. However, education in cultural diversity combined with other additional strategies is needed to further strengthen school nurses' cultural knowledge, skills, and comfort level in encounters with children of foreign origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe and analyse dental care and treatment modalities for children with complex disabilities from a biopsychosocial perspective, with special focus on dental treatment under general anaesthesia (GA) and its relationship to child's functioning. Method: An ICF-CY Checklist for Oral Health was completed using structured interview, direct observations, and dental records for patients attending a specialist paediatric dentistry clinic. Descriptive and comparative data analysis was performed. Performance qualifiers from the ICF-CY component Activities and participation were used to calculate functional factors. Results: Median referral age was 1.5 years and the majority were referred by their paediatrician. Almost all visited a dental hygienist regularly. Dental treatment under GA was common and was combined in 78% of sessions with medical treatment. Children with limitations in their interpersonal interactions and relationships were most likely to have dental GA. Conclusion: Children without caries experience had been referred for specialist dental care at an earlier age than children with caries experience. GA was a common treatment modality and dental and medical treatments were coordinated under the same GA for a majority of children. By using the ICF-CY, it was possible to identify functional limitations characterising children with disabilities that require dental treatment under GA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents of children with a mild intellectual disability experience more distress and require more support than other parents. The aim was to investigate the perceived family needs of parents of children with an MID and to investigate the relationship between parents’ perceived self-efficacy in their parental role and in collaborating with professionals as well as with their perceived needs for support. Interviews were based on questionnaires to the parents of 38 children. The results revealed that parents perceived need for information, respite, and venues in which to meet other parents in similar situations. The informational needs were related to parental self-efficacy and obtaining support. A lower need for information was related to higher perceived control over services. In conclusion, it appears that professionals need to work to strengthen parents’ ability to ask for support and to express the needs. Well-informed parents will develop stronger parental self-efficacy and perceived control over services. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examined social interaction as a mediator between externalized behaviour difficulties and children's engagement in preschool. Data from 663 children (340 boys), aged 18–71 months, were collected at 81 Swedish preschool units in six municipalities to test a path model that included child, teacher, and child groups. The results indicated that behaviour difficulties and engagement may occur simultaneously. Hyperactivity had a direct negative influence on engagement, which was not the case with conduct problems. Teachers’ responsiveness as well as positive interactions with peers had an indirect influence on the relationship between hyperactivity and engagement. Responsive staff and positive interactions within the child group seem to contribute to children's engagement despite hyperactivity. Children's engagement, as well as special support to stimulate engagement in preschool, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Swedish personal assistance system, facilitated through Swedish legislation (known as the LSS), allows children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) to receive subsidized personal assistance. This assistance may be either a hired professional from outside the family or a parent paid as a personal assistant. The type of personal assistant can impact activity selection. As noted by bio-ecological systems theory, participation in 'systems' beyond the household is important for a child's cognitive and social development, including the development of children with disabilities. The authors explored whether children's personal assistant type (i.e., external or parental) is related to their presence in socially integrative activities (SIAs) versus non-socially integrative activities (NSIAs). The relationship between children's activity engagement and their personal assistant type was examined via a descriptive, comparative study based on a questionnaire. Sixty families answered, providing quantitative data about personal assistance type across 56 common family activities. Children's external assistants showed a greater presence in SIAs than children's parental assistants, who showed a greater presence in NSIAs. The level of activity engagement between personal assistant type, however, had a less direct relationship. In accordance with bio-ecological systems theory, activity selection can influence the child's cognitive and social development. Ultimately, this study suggests that external assistants partake in more SIAs than parental assistants, likely as a function of providing respite for families. This respite stems from the LSS's implicit role for external personal assistants to also serve as relief for parents. In turn, by facilitating exposure to broader systems, these external assistants can play a critical role in children's social and cognitive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to explore the contents of communication-related goals in individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with complex communication needs. Goals in 43 IEPs were linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, Children and Youth version (ICF-CY). The results show that the communication-related IEP goals contain information on multiple domains of functioning in the ICF-CY. However, judging by the amount of codes linked to ICF-CY chapters, the IEPs contain a relatively small proportion of goals that focus on interaction with others, or participation in classroom and leisure activities. Special education teachers and speech-language pathologists working with students with complex communication needs may need support to formulate communication-related IEP goals with a focus on interaction and participation in school activities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: The aim of this paper was to discuss differences between having a child perspective and taking the child's perspective based on the problem being investigated. Methods: Conceptual paper based on narrative review. Results: The child's perspective in research concerning children that need additional support are important. The difference between having a child perspective and taking the child's perspective in conjunction with the need to know children's opinions has been discussed in the literature. From an ideological perspective the difference between the two perspectives seems self-evident, but the perspectives might be better seen as different ends on a continuum solely from an adult's view of children to solely the perspective of children themselves. Depending on the research question, the design of the study may benefit from taking either perspective. In this article, we discuss the difference between the perspectives based on the problem being investigated, children's capacity to express opinions, environmental adaptations and the degree of interpretation needed to understand children's opinions. Conclusion: The examples provided indicate that children's opinions can be regarded in most research, although to different degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Human rights provide fundamental conditions for people to maintain dignity and self-determination and protect a nation's most vulnerable citizens. In South Africa, children with intellectual disability who experience socioeconomic disadvantage may be particularly vulnerable due to their cognitive impairments and inability to garner needed resources. Method The perceptions of children with intellectual disability regarding their access to basic amenities in their home environments were examined to determine whether their positive human rights were met. Risk factors were examined in relation to these perceptions. Results The results suggested that participants generally reported high degrees of access to basic resources. Logistic regressions suggested socioeconomic risk factors (e.g., income, education, household size, relationship status) were negatively related to children's reports of access to food and their own beds and positively related to having someone available to explain confusing concepts to them. Conclusions The positive human rights of children living in high-risk environments should be monitored to ensure all South Africans have their rights met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the ICF-CY for AAC Profile, a tool to integrate information about the multiple factors affecting communication skill development and use in school-aged children with complex communication needs. The Profile uses the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health − Children & Youth Version (WHO, 2007) as its framework. We propose that the ICF-CY for AAC Profile constitutes a code set for AAC users and discuss the iterative process of code-set development. The Profile is one component of a proposed process to guide the development of educational goals for children in Grades kindergarten-12 who currently or potentially rely on AAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to analyse and link the content of the health information requested in questionnaires used locally in Swedish child and school health services. Background: In industrialized countries, children's health needs are changing from physical to psychosocial needs and the questionnaires used for health screening and guiding health promotion must therefore adapt to these changes. Methods: Questionnaires were analysed, together with health items linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY). The inter-rater agreement for linking was 80%. Standard age groups were used to improve the comparability across different questionnaires. Results: The information requested for the youngest children focused on communication and acquiring language. For the children aged 6 years and above, health questionnaires related to mental functions, the school situation, psychosomatic symptoms and issues associated with taking care of one's health. Conclusions: The information relating to health in questionnaires revealed that interest focused on health items strongly related to the different age groups and to psychosocial health. The focus was the child as a person rather than the child within a family and school environment. INSET: Key Points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]