Pediatric rehabilitation: Defining a field, a focus, and a future

Keith D. Allen, Susan M. Wilczynski, Joseph H. Evans

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pediatric rehabilitation is a collaborative endeavor. The collaborative nature of pediatric rehabilitation and a formal mechanism for communication among professionals are its defining characteristics. Multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary teams are three distinct arrangements of the collaborative disciplinary model. In this paper, we identify conditions and disabilities that clearly fall within the purview of pediatric rehabilitation. Some health conditions, biobehavioral disorders, and psychosocial/behavioral concerns may also appropriately receive attention from pediatric rehabilitation specialists when professionals from multiple disciplines collaborate. Research studies that identifY potent characteristics of collaborative teams, barriers to team development, barriers to effective service delivery, and training needs of pediatric rehabilitation specialists are necessary. The 'best practices' of pediatric rehabilitation will undoubtedly continue to evolve and must focus on assisting children with disabilities in achieving their highest potential.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)25-40
Number of pages16
JournalInternational Journal of Rehabilitation and Health
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1997

Keywords

  • Collaboration
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Multidisciplinary
  • Pediatric
  • Rehabilitation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rehabilitation

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