Feasibility of the CO-OP Approach with children (aged 6-12 years) with FASD and motor coordination difficulties

The Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) Approach is a problem-solving approach that involves children identifying activity and participation goals that they want to achieve. They are then supported to use problem-solving to identify and use strategies to achieve these goals. CO-OP has been found to be effective for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder, and other developmental conditions. We don't know whether it can be used with children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The aim of our project is to find out whether CO-OP will help children with FASD who have motor coordination difficulties to achieve their goals.

Method/Approach

We are exploring whether children with FASD can learn to use the CO-OP strategies to achieve their identified goals. Children are provided with 10 x CO-OP sessions in their home environment with a follow up at three months. Children's goal performance is measured by child and parent ratings as well as a rater who does not know the children's intervention status before, during, immediately after CO-OP and at the follow up appointment. We are interviewing children and caregivers about what they think about this approach and how they experience it.

Team and collaborators

The team involves staff from ACU and the Royal Northshore Hospital, NSW.

Cate Hilly is undertaking her PhD supervised by:

• Professor Elspeth Froude
• Professor Laura Miller
• Dr Barbara Lucas
• Emeritus Professor Peter Wilson

Funding

This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship doi.org/10.82133/C42F-K220 and a Direct Gift Recipient (DGR) grant from Occupational Therapy Australia Research Foundation.

Contact

Cate Hilly

PhD Candidate

Email: catherine.hilly@myacu.edu.au