Disparities of academic participation of cerebral palsy children

Abstract

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) encompasses a heterogeneous group of early-onset, non-progressive, neuromotor disorders that affect the developing fetal or infant brain.Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of childhood physical disability. The disabling conditions associated with CP impose considerable demands on the health, education, and social services of society. Objective: The objective of this study is to identify disparities in academic participation among children with cerebral palsy by examining a range of factors that may influence their experiences in school.The study explores the sociodemographic characteristics of these children, along with their self-perceptions and emotional experiences. Aiming to identify associations between environmental contexts and the academic participation disparities observed among these children. Methods: The cross-sectional study conducted a convenience sampling method. The study population comprised parents of children with cerebral palsy enrolled in inclusive schools. A total of 104 participants were conveniently selected for the study. Data was collected by using SPQ questionnaire. Data was analyzed through SPSS.25 version. Result: In this research mean age of children was 11.30. Among 104 respondents, 18.3% indicating that their child faces challenges in inclusive academic participation, while the 81.7% suggesting they did not perceive such issues.The father's occupation is a significant sociodemographic factor influencing academic participation disparities and significant associations between environmental factors and academic participation disparities among children with cerebral palsy are found. Conclusion: This study on academic participation disparities among children with cerebral palsy discovered that most sociodemographic factors, with the exception of the father's occupation, had no significant effect. Despite the challenges, 81.7% of participants reported no perceived disparities, indicating effective school support strategies. The findings emphasize the importance of inclusive environments in promoting engagement and success. Keywords: Academic participation , Cerebral Palsy Children, Disparities Word Count: 12367