Weather, disability, vulnerability, and resilience: exploring how youth with physical disabilities experience winter

Abstract

Purpose: Having a mobility-related disability can create numerous challenges in navigating the physical and built environment, especially during winter. Such weather-related challenges can be a significant barrier to participation in everyday activities and are linked with increased physical and psychological morbidities. Unfortunately, mobility research – especially among youth – has often overlooked the effects of winter weather. Methods: This study explores the experiences of daily activities during Canadian winter among a purposive sample of youth, aged 15–22, who have a physical disability requiring the use of a mobility device. The researchers applied a qualitative design, including 12 in-depth interviews. Results: Our findings show that youth encounter several vulnerabilities to participating in social and recreational activities in winter, including: (1) physical barriers and social spatial exclusion; (2) health and safety concerns; and (3) psychosocial issues (i.e. worry, isolation and dependence). Youth also discussed several strategies for adapting to barriers and enhancing their participation during winter, including: (1) wheelchair maintenance; (2) awareness of surroundings; (3) practice using mobility devices and planning; and (4) keeping busy and active. Conclusions: Youth who use a mobility device are vulnerable to health and safety risks and isolation during the winter, but they also display signs of resilience.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Clinicians should ensure that youth who are new to using their mobility device are properly trained in how to use it.

• Service providers should offer a winter survival guide to youth who use a mobility device.

• Clinicians should be taught to recognize signs of loneliness, isolation and depression, and provide a list of local resources and activities during the winter.

• Rehabilitation engineers should focus their efforts on adapting mobility devices to enhance the safety of youth.

• Climate
• disability
• mobility
• participation
• vulnerability
• winter
• youth

Acknowledgements

We thank Lori Howell and John Macrea for their insight into the development of this project and the participants who took part.