Project Description:
Children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP), or children being monitored for signs and symptoms related to CP, make up the largest group of children affected by a disability. Across the lifespan, many people with CP use powered mobility devices such as scooters and wheelchairs to support their mobility and participation in home and community settings. However, the trend in early intervention has been to delay use of devices until efforts to promote independent walking are exhausted, despite strong evidence that supports early use of powered mobility to assist with participation in everyday activities. Additionally, research has indicated the use of powered mobility complements (rather than detracts from) other interventions focused on more traditional self initiated mobility skills such as crawling and walking.Study investigators have been involved in an international mobility and socialization program called Go Baby Go, which provides safety and accessibility modifications to commercially available toy ride on cars. In compliment to this work, their colleagues at Permobil have designed and recently received FDA clearance for the Explorer Mini, a powered mobility device specifically designed for children 12 36 months with disabilities such as CP to enhance their mobility and environmental exploration. Both these early powered mobility options offer functional, aesthetic, and affordable alternatives for children and families to fill a gap left by traditional powered wheelchairs.This clinical trial will investigate the device use patterns, caregiver perceptions, and developmental outcomes of children with CP and their families. This represents the first opportunity to compare the novel device (Explorer mini) with a modified ride on car. Taken together, research comparing these devices in natural environments can add critical data to the evidence base supporting early powered mobility for children with CP as a part of using multiple devices for mobility to care for those with disabilities across the lifespan. This study will also create a pilot data set from which to secure future large scale funding to assess a wider variety of mobility devices with multiple trial sites across the country. Establishing and improving this evidence base for children with CP and their families is essential to ensure equitable access to mobility and participation experiences across the lifespan using a range of technologies to support access and facilitate achievement of key developmental skills. The aims are to: 1) Evaluate a powered mobility intervention to promote developmental, activity and participation outcomes of young children with CP; and 2) Compare the use patterns (frequency, duration, environment) of two powered mobility options: The Explorer Mini and a modified ride on car.
