Background: There is limited knowledge about facilitators and barriers to leisure activity participation for children with disabilities in Norway, which is needed to improve rehabilitation interventions. Aim: This study aims to explore the main facilitators and barriers for participation in leisure activities for children and youth with disabilities in Norway. Methods: Semi-structured group interviews with 31 parents, 20 healthcare professionals, and nine children with disabilities were conducted. Qualitative content analysis with thematic coding was used, and the model of factors affecting the participation of children with disabilities developed by King et al. was applied for further deductive analysis. Results: Child factors, as viewed by parents and professionals, worked primarily as barriers and tended to increase with the child's age. The children themselves focussed on their own preferences, friendship and enjoyment as their main facilitators for participation. Most environmental and family factors worked both as facilitators and as barriers, with parental support as the most important facilitator. Differences between urban and rural areas in the availability and accessibility of activities were reported. Conclusion and significance: Knowledge from this study is important for the improvement of rehabilitation interventions that aim to increase participation in leisure activities for children and youth with disabilities.

Purpose: This study describe and compare the ability of professionals working in municipality stroke rehabilitation services to facilitate learning and change in the daily living of stroke survivors in two regions: one in northern Norway, the other central Denmark. Materials and Methods: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with survivors 3 and 9 months after discharge from in-patient care. By contrast, field observations and focus group interviews were completed with professionals on multidisciplinary teams in the two regions. A sociocultural perspective on learning was applied during data analysis. Results: Altogether, the ability of municipal health services to facilitate learning and change for stroke survivors during the first year generally depended upon developing comprehensive integrated rehabilitation plans and ensuring access to coordinated, qualified multidisciplinary teams with professional knowledge and skills to support the survivors and their families during processes of adjustment, learning and change. However, Danish stroke survivors seemed positioned to be more active, proactive and empowered, and their processes of learning and change seemed more closely co-constructed with professional support. Conclusion: Findings reveal considerable differences in municipal stroke rehabilitation services in northern Norway and central Denmark and their ability to support stroke survivors in performing self-management.

Aims: According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child article 12, children have a right to express their views. However, knowledge on how children with a disability perceive this right and the extent to which they would like to access this right is unclear. The aim of this study was to describe and capture the meaning of children's perspective on their right to participate in decision-making together with the children's lived experiences in pediatric rehabilitation. Methods: A phenomenological hermeneutical research design was applied for gathering the thoughts and lived experiences of seven children with different disabilities through individual interviews and observations. Results: The children expressed satisfaction with participation being limited to less important decisions. This may be understood as lack of experience with participation in decision-making or an inherent wish of becoming like peers and therefore viewing therapists as experts of a normalization process. Conclusions: Health care professionals should consider informing the child of the possibility of decision-making and for negotiating power-sharing and responsibility concerning decisions in pediatric rehabilitation.

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This study explored the thoughts of emerging adults with Down syndrome on quality of life and subjective well-being. Eight 22-year-olds participated in interviews. Data was analysed with content analysis. Four themes were revealed: Work based on interest and capability, having an active and social leisure life, a safe place to live and the use of information and communication technology. Two context related patterns were identified showing that quality of life and subjective well-being were related to individualised support to enhance independency in work, social leisure and place of living. Knowledge of their perception of independency and their awareness of needing customised help and support is valuable. This study supports the proposed emerging Quality of Life Supports Paradigm in the field of intellectual disabilities, which integrates key concepts of quality of life and supports.