Exploring problems for school reintegration following spinal cord injury: Perspectives on the kindergarten through fifth-grade population.
Brooke Reeves, Rebecca Martin
PMID 36188981WHAT IT FOUND
Children with spinal cord injury often return to school needing new support plans.
Physical therapy was the most common need, followed by occupational therapy and counseling. Access barriers remain frequent, and many parents did not know their child's injury level.
Key findings
01After spinal cord injury, 47% of children remained in regular education while 35% moved to integrated education, and 53% required an Individualized Education Plan.
02School physical therapy was the most common support required at 47%, followed by school occupational therapy, counseling, and adaptive physical education at 41% each.
03Thirty-five percent of parents reported their child faced barriers accessing the school building, and 41% did not know their child's level of injury.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The analysis is based on only 17 children, which limits how far these findings can be applied to the wider population. The survey was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have affected the response rate and the school environments described. Many parents did not know their child's level of injury, suggesting gaps in the education provided to families during rehabilitation. The study did not include children with concurrent cognitive diagnoses, so it does not address the needs of those with combined physical and cognitive impairments.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a child with a spinal cord injury who does not have a cognitive disability will return to their original school placement without support. Many require new educational plans and physical accommodations, and access barriers remain a common problem.