UPDATE: This event will no longer be running live. Sarah Grace will be providing us with a pre-recording and it will be available on the website in early August.
Join us with Sarah Grace Paguinto presenting her latest research: GETTING WHEELS: A parents’ and carers’ guide to introducing a wheelchair for children with a neuromuscular condition”
Wheelchair prescription is a practical way for children to achieve developmental milestones, independence, and participation in age-appropriate tasks. However, recommendation of a wheelchair can often be met with hesitance from families, which may delay implementation and compromise the child’s safety and function. Sarah-Grace’s PhD research aimed to understand the perspectives of families and multi-disciplinary professionals regarding wheelchair recommendation and their experience of the prescription process. This culminated in co-design and evaluation of a booklet that aimed to address the emotional and information needs of families following wheelchair recommendation and has been incorporated as part of clinical care within paediatric neuromuscular clinics nationally. While Sarah-Grace’s research focused on paediatric neuromuscular conditions, findings are applicable to a range of physical disabilities and assistive technologies.
Sarah-Grace brings 14 years of experience as a paediatric Occupational Therapist, including 10 years as part of the Neuromuscular Clinic at Sydney Children’s Hospital. Sarah-Grace’s consultative role within the clinic includes support to therapists and families regarding Occupational Therapy management of children with neuromuscular conditions. She has also been involved in education programs within the hospital and community to therapists, schools and non-government organisations.