Training Therapists to Use Powered Mobility Devices with Young Children Having Cerebral Palsy to Improve Mobility and Participation in Early Childhood Settings

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to find out if a therapist training program can help providers in early childhood settings use powered mobility devices with young children who have cerebral palsy classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System Levels IV-V. The study also evaluates whether the training is practical and helpful for therapists, families, and children, addressing gaps in access to powered mobility during a critical developmental period between 12 and 36 months. The study involves therapists receiving one to two days of in-person training on powered mobility implementation, followed by delivering a six-month intervention to child-caregiver pairs. Therapists conduct twelve biweekly home-based sessions using the Permobil Explorer Mini device, focusing on mobility opportunities, caregiver coaching, and integrating powered mobility into daily routines. The project includes surveys, interviews, and observations to understand barriers, co-design training, and test feasibility. Participants will complete assessments such as surveys, interviews, and video-recorded sessions to evaluate therapist knowledge, confidence, intervention fidelity, and caregiver feasibility of device use. Child outcomes like mobility, participation, and engagement are measured through caregiver reports and standardized assessments. The study spans from training through intervention and includes monitoring of acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility over the six-month period.

Implementing Powered Mobility in Early Childhood Settings for Children With Cerebral Palsy