Naslov
Overcoming Restrictions in Occupational Needs of Adults with Cerebral Palsy in Croatia

Autori
Bartolac, Andreja

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Investing for progress / - Hamburg : Deutscher Verband der Ergoterpeuten, 2008

Skup
8th European Congress of Occupational Therapy

Mjesto i datum
Hamburg, Njemačka, 22.05.2008. - 25.05.2008

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
longitudinal study; cerebral palsy; psycho-social workshops; occupational needs; restrictions

Sažetak
Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) living in Croatia are quite restricted in performing almost all wanted and needed occupations. A range of questions connected to their everyday life are appearing, including getting adequate education, finding suitable employment (Delic, Radeljevic, 1996), active participation in decision making (social and political), personal problems regarding independent living, the right to set up a family and organize life according to individual needs and wishes, which all causes frustration, lack of self esteem and dissatisfaction with their everyday life (Magill-Evans, J.E., Restall, G., 1991).A longitudinal, qualitative study of a 6 year long project has been made, with a group of 11-14 adult persons with cerebral palsy, which have voluntarily participated in over 150 workshops. Perception of their independence, skills acquiring and satisfaction was measured periodically. As an evaluation tool an observation and questionnaires have been used.The problems were mostly present in the aria of self-motivation, taking initiative and responsibility for the group work, and not so much in the aria of motor competence. Still, according to questionnaire results, 77% of participants noticed improvements in the quality of workshops and 66, 67% of them expressed a wish to organize and lead workshops by themselves. That can only mean that the feeling of self-confidence has grown to the point that the conditions for a new step of individual development have been made. That new step would be education of individual, motivated participants to become peer-councilors and independent organizers of workshops. That was confirmed bay the 67% of participants who are of opinion that their physical condition is not a restrictive factor for being an independent workshop leader. The results of questionnaires in the end showed a good influence of transferring responsibilities from the therapist to the participants. Development of social (competition and tolerance) and personal skills (communication, responsibility, management) was obvious for most of the group members. The participants extracted several arias of improvement: social communication, motivation, learning, independence and ability to compromise. During the 6 years of work, 5 group-art exhibitions with 4 catalogues and 3 autonomous exhibitions were organized, 2 personal lyric books published, most of group members started to participate in some kind of sport and two couples have a normal intimate relationship.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

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