Social Determinants in COVID-19 Experiences of Children With Disabilities Receiving School-Based Services in Chicago: Mixed-Methods Study of Parent/Guardian Perspectives.
Catherine Y Luo, Monica E Kowalczyk, Michael E Msall and 1 others
PMID 39413306WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of children with disabilities reported that remote learning and virtual therapy were less effective than in-person services.
Key barriers included lack of hands-on interaction, insufficient accommodations, and family financial or housing constraints that limited access to private support.
Key findings
01Parents reported that virtual speech, occupational, and physical therapy services were ineffective or less effective than in-person care due to a lack of hands-on activities and face-to-face interaction.
02Family social determinants, specifically housing space and income, significantly impacted a child's ability to engage in remote learning and access necessary support services.
03Parents assumed new roles as therapists and advocates, often feeling unprepared, because school-based services were reduced or delivered virtually without adequate accommodation for disabilities.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted at a single urban academic medical center, limiting generalizability to other regions or rural populations. Non-English-speaking parents were excluded, so the findings do not reflect the experiences of families with limited English proficiency. The study did not include data from families who declined to participate, which may introduce selection bias. All data was self-reported by parents, which may be influenced by social desirability bias. The sample size was small (27 children), and the study focused on early school-aged children, so findings may not apply to older students.
Declared interests
The authors have no conflicts to disclose.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that teletherapy is ineffective for all patients or conditions. The study reflects parental perceptions during a specific period of pandemic disruption and highlights barriers related to social determinants and lack of accommodations, rather than proving a universal lack of efficacy for virtual services.