The Real Me: Insight into Youths with Physical Disabilities’ TranXition to Adulthood through Digital Images

Abstract

Aims

Youths with physical disabilities experience various obstacles in their transition to adulthood which can contribute to poorer health and socioeconomic outcomes in later life, compared to their non-disabled peers. Transitional care offers these youths the necessary support to overcome such obstacles. The objective of this study was to explore participants’ experiential learning in the development of life skills within the transitional care program TranXition, and their perceived contribution of the program to their goal attainment.

Methods

Data were collected using photo-elicitation. Five participants were recruited from the TranXition program to audio-visually record (photographs or videos) their meaningful experiences in the program and to reflect on them during interviews.

Results

Participants felt the TranXition program helped them build their self-awareness and self-efficacy, and to feel more confident and skilled, whether at home, in school or in the community. Moreover, they appreciated the program’s group cohesion which facilitated learning life skills from others in order to achieve their goals. Finally, results suggest that group interventions, while important, may need to be complemented by individual consultations.

Conclusions

Rehabilitation programs in real-world settings, such as the TranXition program, may be a promising adjunct to traditional transitional care for youths with physical disabilities.

Keywords:

• Photo-elicitation
• physical disabilities
• qualitative methods
• transition to adulthood
• youths

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the managers and directors of the Directorates of Rehabilitation & Multidisciplinary Services and the Academic Affairs and Research Ethics of the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et services sociaux du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal for their support in the design and conduct of this study. This initiative would not have been possible without the crucial contribution of the TranXition administration team and clinical staff. Our thanks go out to all participants in this research project for entrusting their stories to us.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Center de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR)-New Initiatives program.

Notes on contributors

Sasha Elbaz

Sasha Elbaz, Ph.D. student in Psychology at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), is a lecturer in Continuing Education at Vanier College, and research professional in the current project. He specializes in organizational psychology, notably in the improvement of work-life balance.

Tanvir Dhoot

Tanvir Dhoot, M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy, former research coordinator of this project. Currently, she is a key member of the Rehabilitation Team at the Montreal University Health Center, working as an Occupational Therapist on the Trauma, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury and Orthopaedic wards.

Philippe Harrison

Philippe Harrison, Special Care Counsellor, is one of the co-leading interveners in the TranXition program at the CIUSSS West-Central and member of the Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR). Specialized in motor and sensory loss rehabilitation, he has shown dedication to helping youths reach their optimal potential through empowerment and peer support.

Emily Scazzosi

Emily Scazzosi, M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy, is one of the co-leading interveners in the TranXition program at the CIUSSS West-Central and member of the Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR). She has been part of the core team in the development of the TranXition program from its beginning in 2018 and continues to be an agent of change to help meet the needs of this clientele through non-traditional intervention, while integrating evidence-based practice.

Julianne Noseworthy

Julianne Noseworthy, M.A in Occupational Therapy, is the current clinical coordinator of the TranXition program at the CIUSSS West-Central. She has developed a clinical expertise in paediatric rehabilitation within hospital settings and rehabilitation centres.

Virginie Cousineau

Virginie Cousineau, MSW, currently works as proximity rehabilitation services manager for the autism and/or an intellectual delay program as well as the integration to an active life program at the CIUSSS South-Central Montreal. Former TranXition clinical coordinator, she continues to advocate actively for the promotion of social participation of youth living with a disability.

Isabelle Cormier

Isabelle Cormier, BSc. in Occupational Therapy, is chief program administrator of the TranXition program at the CIUSSS West-Central and member of Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR). She has had a long-term commitment with research in particular projects regarding the social participation in youth with disabilities.

Chantal Robillard

Chantal Robillard, Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology, is an adjunct professor at the Department of Sexology at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), clinical research coordinator in physical rehabilitation the CIUSSS West-Central and researcher at the Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR). Her projects contribute towards recognizing and integrating the daily realities of youth with disabilities in the holistic and equitable management of policies in health and social services.