Change the Task Not the Child

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology published research on context therapy for children with cerebral palsy. Therapists were trained that in order to achieve parent identified functional goals for the child the therapist was to change the task and/or the environment rather than change the abilities of the child. A three step intervention process was established. The results indicated that the therapists were able to follow the therapy protocol and parents participated in goal setting and interventions. The researchers concluded that having a therapy approach that changes the task and/or environment is a viable intervention and needs further investigation. The article details the context therapy approach which can be replicated by researchers and therapists.

Reference: Darrah J, Law MC, Pollock N, Wilson B, Russell DJ, Walter SD, Rosenbaum P, Galuppi B. Context therapy: a new intervention approach for children with cerebral palsy Dev Med Child Neurol. 2011 May 13. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.03959.x. [Epub ahead of print]