Assessing Social Relationships of Children with Cerebral Palsy in Rural Areas: Family Perceptions
Open Access
Author:
Tucker, Israel
Area of Honors:
Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Maryanne Mong Cramer, Thesis Supervisor Laura Rotunno, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
cerebral palsy social interaction aac alternative and augmentative communication rural areas peer interactions nonverbal complex disabilities
Abstract:
Individuals with complex disabilities, including children with cerebral palsy, have limited opportunities for social interactions and may rely on alternative and augmentative communication devices, social media, or video games to create meaningful experiences and friendships. The present study sought to use family perspectives to identify and describe the social interactions of children with nonverbal cerebral palsy living in rural areas. One family was interviewed. Through a caretaker’s perspective, it was found that an eleven-year-old boy with nonverbal cerebral palsy has limited opportunities for social interaction, has few community resources, and does not rely on the internet or his older sibling for social interaction.
