Enhancing access and engagement in pediatric telerehabilitation for children with disabilities and their families

For children with disabilities, receiving therapy services is important to supporting development and participation. In Ontario, publicly-funded children's therapy services are offered through organizations called Children's Treatment Centres (CTCs). Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, appointments at CTCs primarily occurred in person. COVID-19 restrictions meant that CTCs had to pivot and offer services remotely using telerehabilitation technologies. Current data shows that children with disabilities and their families experience barriers in attending and participating in telerehabilitation appointments and may need supports to ensure that these services are accessible. This research project will use an experience-based co-design approach, where families, clinicians and CTC leadership will work together to improve how families receive telerehabilitation services. Creative solutions to improve access and engagement in telerehabilitation services will be developed together and implemented to ensure that all families can use the services they are eligible for and to improve children's functional outcomes. The solutions developed will be evaluated in an Ontario CTC and shared with a network of experts across Canada working in children's rehabilitation practice and research.