How adolescents with physical disabilities view success in life

1994 - 1995

Investigators & Staff

• J Miller Polgar
• G King
• E MacKinnon

Funding Agency

Thames Valley Children's Centre - $5,000 (1994-1995)
The Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation - $2,500 (1994-1995)

Summary

This qualitative study explored how adolescents with non-progressive physical disabilities define success in life, as well as what they identify as the precursors to success. Eleven adolescents with spina bifida or cerebral palsy were interviewed. The findings indicate that adolescents with disabilities have desires and aspirations similar to those of any adolescent. They want to be happy, to be engaged in meaningful activity; they need to be believed in and supported. Also, the findings show that the biggest barriers faced by adolescents with physical disabilities are negative attitudes and others' low expectations of what they can achieve.

The literature in the area of adolescent rehabilitation provides very little information on adolescents' personal reflections, opinions and perceptions of what constitutes and contributes to success in life. The study involved conducting structured interviews with 11 adolescents with cerebral palsy or spina bifida between 18 and 21 years of age, each of whom were attending, but anticipating to end, school within the following 12 months. These interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative methods.

The research team (including a consultant who has a non-progressive physical disability) identified significant units of text from the interviews and made observations about important recurring themes. The themes indicated what success is in general ("success is being happy") and several key ingredients that lead to success ("getting and doing what you want," "having a job is one way to be a success," "an education helps you to get a job", "living on your own", and "the importance of being believed in"). Other themes indicated factors that are potentially related to success ("disability as a filter through which one views oneself," "the significance of being accepted" and "limited physical endurance"). These themes tell us that adolescents with disabilities have the same aspirations and goals as other adolescents, and also face the same barriers. The biggest barriers are attitudinal - how others view them and how they view themselves. The findings have many implications for clinical practice.

For more information, please refer to:

• Keeping Current: "What adolescents with disabilities want in life: Implications for service delivery"
• Miller Polgar, J., King, G., MacKinnon, E., Cathers, T., & Havens, L. (2001). Adolescents with non-progressive physical disabilities: Definitions of success. Manuscript submitted for publication.
• King, G., Cathers, T., Miller Polgar, J., MacKinnon, E., & Havens, L. (2000). Success in life for older adolescents with cerebral palsy. Qualitative Health Research, 10(6), 734-749.

Impact

Findings can help service providers, parents and teachers to understand how their own attitudes impact upon the life success of adolescents with disabilities.