Parenting with a disability: exploring the satisfaction and efficacy of the PediaLift wheelchair accessible crib

Abstract

Purpose: Parents with disabilities face many challenges in fulfilling their daily roles. Previous literature has shown that assistive technology (AT) can be a viable solution to help an individual with a disability participate in everyday roles. Although AT can increase ability of parents with disabilities to care for their children, there are many barriers that prevent them from getting the AT that they need. Some of these barriers include a lack of training and awareness by healthcare providers regarding AT options, a lack of rehabilitation therapists’ feeling they are competent to provide AT options for their clients. and funding barriers. One issue that impacts the ability to get funding for AT is the lack of research supporting the efficacy of the technology. An AT device specifically designed for parents with disabilities is an adaptive crib called PediaLift. Health insurance companies are resistant to funding the PediaLift stating that there is no evidence in the literature to support its efficacy.

Materials and Methods

In this study, we investigated the efficacy of the Pedialift crib by using the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology 2.0 (QUEST 2.0) survey and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) with individuals who have already purchased and used the device.

Results

Findings revealed that overall users were satisfied with the device and services provided. Conclusion: Participants were more able to participate in the role of parenting after obtaining the Pedialift.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Parents with disabilities face multiple barriers in providing childcare to their infants.

• Appropriate assistive technology can mitigate the barriers parents with disabilities face in providing care to their infants

• Funding AT is one of many barriers that parents with disabilities encounter when trying to care for their infants

• Outcomes studies regarding satisfaction with and performance of AT for childcare is needed to provide support for its funding.

Keywords:

• Parents with disabilities
• assistive technology for baby care
• assistive technology outcomes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).