A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILDREN

Abstract

Progress is determined by motivation and motivation is determined
by confidence. In managing children with multiple deficits, it is
necessary to extract underlying obstacles in order to make therapy
most effective. The client, a ten year old girl presents with significant
fear of movement. She presents with multiple fractures secondary to
distal renal tubular acidosis and osteopenia. After confining herself
to bed, post orthopedic surgery, she was referred to the Director of
Programmes of Circle of Care, a center catering to children with
special needs and promoting inclusion. Individual and parental
counseling along with movement and art instruction yielded mobility
and improved management of activities of daily life with moderate
support from equipment and family members. As a result of
collaborative work and systemic awareness, client was able to exit
her state of immobility and become independent in problem-solving.
A multimodal approach accounts for the physical impairments
as well as the social limitations presented in a child. Multidisciplinary
approach with importance on counseling makes therapy effective
and progress visible particularly in children who present with multiple
or frail disorders/diseases.