Crisis Brings Innovative Strategies: Collaborative Empathic Teleintervention for Children with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Lockdown

• Main Authors: Verónica Schiariti, Robin A. McWilliam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: COVID-19; functioning; participation; Routines-Based Model; family-centered; child
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/1749

<i>Background:</i> While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread across the globe, public health strategies—including the social distancing measures that many countries have implemented— have caused disruptions to daily routines. For children with disabilities and their families, such measures mean a lack of access to the resources they usually have through schools and habilitation or rehabilitation services. Health emergencies, like the current COVID-19 pandemic, require innovative strategies to ensure continuity of care. The objective of this perspective paper is to propose the adoption of two innovative strategies for teleintervention. <i>Methods:</i> The novel strategies include: (1) to apply the principles of the Routines-Based Model beyond the early years of development, and (2) to adopt My Abilities First—which is a novel educational tool promoting an abilities-oriented approach in healthcare encounters. <i>Results:</i> In the context of COVID-19, and using accessible language, the content of the paper highlights what is important for families and individuals with disabilities, and how the proposed novel strategies could be useful delivering remote support. <i>Conclusions:</i> The principles of the Routines-Based Model and My Abilities First are universal and facilitate collaborative, empathic, family-centered teleintervention for children and youth with disabilities during and post the COVID-19 lockdown.