Children with Cerebral Palsy - How can we hear their voice?

Children with Cerebral Palsy have a variety of communication styles. Some use communication aids, picture boards or symbols as well as gestures and sign language. Interviews were conducted with children and an accompanying adult to tell us about their experiences before and after six session of adapted cycling. They also kept a diary about this experience. The researchers developed the interviews as they encountered different styles of communication. The use of pictures to encourage a dialogue about cycling was helpful. Consideration had to be given to the style of questioning to enable a response from the children. Closed questions were used with images of happy or sad faces to capture more feeling about the experiences. Observation of their non verbal communication was essential. The researchers reflected that it was hard not to lead the interview and to be confident that is was ‘their voice’ being heard. Twenty six interviews and eight diaries were collected from seventeen children. The data transcripts were verified by the accompanying adult and analysed using a template approach. The children had enjoyed the adapted cycling experience. Emergent themes are the impact on the child and family, their future cycling aspirations and an opportunity for social participation