"My own way of Moving" : The Movement Experiences of Children with disabilities

Abstract

This dissertation is about how children with disabilities experience movement. Their experiences are investigated in different contexts; daily life, regular follow-up programs within health and habilitation services and in a movement improvisation group. Phenomenology constitutes the theoretical perspective and the applied methodology, which indicates that movement is understood as both a personal and an inter-subjective phenomenon. The empirical material stems from interviews and observations. Twenty-three children, between four and 12 years of age and their parents have participated. The children were recruited from two entities within the Norwegian specialist health services, one at a national level and the other at a county level. The inclusion criterion for children recruited from the national unit was that they be diagnosed with severe congenital heart disease, and for the children recruited from the county level unit that they have motor function disability and a desire to participate in a movement improvisation group with other children once a week over a period of time.

The dissertation show how different contexts give different opportunities for movement experiences and expressions. It reveals that the knowledge children have with reference to themselves, their movements and ways of acting in different situations is extensive. This knowledge should be recalled in its full meaning within child habilitation.