The Entwinement of Disability and Paediatric Chronic Pain and their Impact on the High School Education of Students with Disabilities

Abstract

Globally, 20-35% of children experience chronic pain that negatively impacts their schooling and quality of life. Yet, few studies have focused on the entwinement of disability, paediatric chronic pain, and education. This qualitative study on disability and chronic pain used accounts of three female undergraduate students with physical and developmental disabilities to identify the impact of paediatric chronic pain on their high school education. Three significant concepts emerged from the data: the impact of chronic pain on academics, teacher-student discrepant views of ability, and collaborative painmanagement approach. The study concludes that there is a need for school programs that target academic and personal needs to improve the education of high schoolers with disabilities experiencing chronic pain. It is particularly imperative to train educators in pain identification and management techniques to increase appropriate support for students so they can participate in learning and perform to their full potential.