Introduction: The concept of participation has been extensively used in health and social care literature since the World Health Organization introduced its description in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in 2001. More recently, the concept of social participation is frequently used in research articles and policy reports. However, in the ICF, no specific definition exists for social participation, and an explanation of differences between the concepts is not available. Aim: The central question in this discussion article is whether participation, as defined by the ICF, and social participation are distinct concepts. This article illustrates the concepts of participation and social participation, presents a critical discussion of their definitions, followed by implications for rehabilitation and possible future directions. Discussion: A clear definition for participation or social participation does not yet exist. Definitions for social participation differ from each other and are not sufficiently distinct from the ICF definition of participation. Although the ICF is regarded an important conceptual framework, it is criticised for not being comprehensive. The relevance of societal involvement of clients is evident for rehabilitation, but the current ICF definition of participation does not sufficiently capture societal involvement. Conclusion: Changing the ICF’s definition of participation towards social roles would overcome a number of its shortcomings. Societal involvement would then be understood in the light of social roles. Consequently, there would be no need to make a distinction between social participation and participation.

Pediatric rehabilitation considers Family-centered service (FCS) as a way to increase participation of children with a physical disability in daily life. An important principal is that parents greatly contribute to their child’s participation at school, at home, and in the community. However, it is unclear what kind of information is available from literature about what parents actually do to support their child’s participation and what problems and needs they experience? Hence, the aim of this study was to provide an overview of the actions, challenges, and needs of parents in enabling participation of their child with a physical disability that is neurological and non-progressive in nature.

Evidence for the importance of focusing on participation to promote health and wellbeing in childhood-onset disability exists, but practice is slow to change. This paper provides a knowledge transl...

Children with special educational needs experience limited levels of participation at school; their participation is influenced by the physical and social environment. Interventions that have been ...

Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide an in-depth exploration and understanding of parents’ thoughts, feelings and concerns they experience while reflecting on their actions, challenges and needs in enabling their child’s participation at home, at school and in the community. Method: A naturalistic inquiry with thirteen Dutch parents using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Analysis revealed three super-ordinate themes: “Parents’ experiences and concerns about systems, laws and regulations”, “Parents’ experiences and thoughts about physical and/or social environment” and “Parents’ experiences and feelings of finding and/or enabling an activity”. Parents’ often expressed feelings of disappointment derived from being misunderstood, from dealing with the complexity of systems, from hindrance of participation of their children by the social and the physical environment, and from the lack of leisure activities for their child. It is primarily restrictions in the physical and social environments that urge them to take actions, to experience challenges and think of needs. Conclusions: In-depth exploration and understanding of parents’ articulated matters must be shared and taken seriously by policymakers and service providers. Parents’ knowledge and experiences should be of major relevance to improve paediatric rehabilitation and other services for children with a physical disability.