Exploring the lived experiences of children with specialised wheelchair and seating needs from a family perspective

The purpose of this study is to describe the lived experience of children who have specialised wheelchair and seating needs from a family perspective with a view to facilitating family-centred practice in wheelchair and seating services. Concepts of acceptance and adjustment for the family, integration into the home and community environments, experiences with service providers, perceptions of family-centred practice, and general views and opinions regarding wheelchair and seating services were of interest in this study. Participants were recruited under the Enable Ireland remit. An interpretative phenomenological approach was used and data was gathered through semi structured interviews with three families. The research provided an insight into how family members viewed the impact of the phenomenon and adjusted to life with a child who has specialised wheelchair and seating needs. Four main themes emerged from the data: Acceptance and adjustment, learning new ways of doing, being independent and interactions with service providers. Findings from the study suggest that caring for a child with specialised wheelchair and seating needs is a family affair and affects the entire family unit. Using a holistic approach to wheelchair and seating service provision which encompasses the philosophy of family centred care is optimal to support family health and wellbeing.