Crisis brings innovative strategies: Collaborative empathic teleintervention for children with disabilities during the COVID-19 lockdown
Date
2021
Authors
Schiariti, Verónica
McWilliam, Robin A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Abstract
Background: While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread across the
globe, public health strategies—including the social distancing measures that many countries have
implemented— have caused disruptions to daily routines. For children with disabilities and their
families, such measures mean a lack of access to the resources they usually have through schools
and habilitation or rehabilitation services. Health emergencies, like the current COVID-19 pandemic,
require innovative strategies to ensure continuity of care. The objective of this perspective paper
is to propose the adoption of two innovative strategies for teleintervention. Methods: The novel
strategies include: (1) to apply the principles of the Routines-Based Model beyond the early years
of development, and (2) to adopt My Abilities First—which is a novel educational tool promoting
an abilities-oriented approach in healthcare encounters. Results: In the context of COVID-19, and
using accessible language, the content of the paper highlights what is important for families and
individuals with disabilities, and how the proposed novel strategies could be useful delivering
remote support. Conclusions: The principles of the Routines-Based Model and My Abilities First are
universal and facilitate collaborative, empathic, family-centered teleintervention for children and
youth with disabilities during and post the COVID-19 lockdown.
Description
Keywords
COVID-19, functioning, participation, Routines-Based Model, family-centered, child, pandemic, teleintervention, abilities, rights
Citation
Schiariti, V. & McWilliam, R. A. (2021). “Crisis brings innovative strategies: Collaborative empathic teleintervention for children with disabilities during the COVID-19 lockdown.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1749. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041749