Understanding the family's perspective : Parenting a child with cerebral palsy : A problem-based approach to assessment and management

[Extract] This chapter describes the experience of parents who are raising a child with cerebral palsy. Families that include a member with cerebral palsy are as diverse as those found within any other community and may be bringing up other children in the family as well. The siblings too must be considered within the family dynamics, increasing the responsibilities of and concerns for parents. Professionals, particularly therapists, working with individuals with cerebral palsy should be guided by models that recognize the inextricable influence that family context has on planned interventions. Palisano et al (2004) described three of the most influential models that emphasize family context. They are the person occupation environment (PEO) model, family-centred care (FCC) and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)