Participation in social, community, and civic life is a fundamental aspect of health and well-being—and a central outcome of rehabilitation after SCI.
It encompasses the ability to engage in meaningful relationships, education, employment, recreation, and public life.
Rehabilitation is not only about restoring physical function but about enabling individuals to reintegrate into society and live with autonomy and dignity. Achieving this goal requires addressing more than the medical consequences of SCI—it demands attention to the environmental and social context in which individuals live.
Key environmental factors influencing participation include:
- Accessibility of the built environment and transportation
- Availability of assistive technologies and personal support services
- Inclusive policies and service systems
- Social attitudes and community support
Barriers in these areas can significantly restrict opportunities for engagement, regardless of an individual’s functional ability. Conversely, facilitating environments can empower individuals to participate fully, improving both quality of life and long-term outcomes.
Promoting participation requires an integrated, biopsychosocial approach to rehabilitation—one that considers not only impairments, but also personal goals, social determinants of health, and systemic enablers.
The 'Participation' research group focus on
- Environmental barriers
- Participation restrictions
- Leisure-time physical activity
To learn more about the research on particiaption and environmental factors in InSCI, we recommend reading the following publication:
Reinhardt JD, Middleton J, Bökel A, Kovindha A, Kyriakides A, Hajjioui A, Kouda K; InSCI, Kujawa J. Environmental Barriers Experienced by People With Spinal Cord Injury Across 22 Countries: Results From a Cross-Sectional Survey. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Dec;101(12):2144-2156. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.04.027. Epub 2020 Jun 2. Erratum in: Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 Nov;102(11):2273. PMID: 32502565.
