Transitioning from adolescence to adulthood for young people living with cerebral palsy : a meta-ethnography

Transitioning from adolescence to adulthood appears to be a challenging period for young people living with cerebral palsy. The aim of this review was to highlight the challenges that might be experienced during this period. A systematic search of the literature and meta-ethnographic review examined seven qualitative research papers providing a detailed synthesis in the form of three domains summarised as ‘meaningful preparation for transition’, ‘becoming empowered’, and, ‘overcoming vulnerability’. These inform a discussion which shows that adolescents living with cerebral palsy are not prepared adequately for adult life. Examination of the literature stimulates curiosity as to the nature …

The Experience of Living through the Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood for Young People with Cerebral Palsy

This study explored the lived experience of transition from adolescence to adulthood for young people with cerebral palsy to inform occupational therapy practitioners as to what might promote positive life opportunities. A phenomenological methodology was used with six participants, aged 18 to 25 years with cerebral palsy. The findings are presented in the form of hermeneutic stories and three themes: The storm of uncertainty; time, space and the body, Capsizing in a world of others and, Securing anchorage; being heard and understood. Recommendations include service integration across health, social care and education based on partnership and provision of coordinators. peerReviewed

Honouring the opening: Unfolding the rich ground between the philosophical thinking of Martin Heidegger and practice-based empirical work

The aim of this article is to bring philosophical thinking closer to practice-based empirical work. Using Martin Heidegger’s philosophy, it offers a bridge between these two worlds, attempting to provide philosophical depth to the findings of a hermeneutic phenomenological study. This process unfolded through the appearance of three intertwined, potential, meaningful modes of being in the lifeworld: space as a condition for being and being for worlding the world; temporal and spatial self-being, the existence of multiple selves in time and space; and suffering and thriving as modes of being. The article extends the dialogue and concludes with key reflections and insight for research practic…

The Work of Hermeneutic Phenomenology

This paper is an illustration of the application of a hermeneutic phenomenological study. The theory of meaning and interpretation, drawing on philosophical hermeneutics and the work of Gadamer and Heidegger, and its alignment with phenomenological thought is presented. The paper explains and aims to make visible how key concerns in relation to the fusion of horizons, hermeneutic understanding, hermeneutic circle and hermeneutic phenomenological attitude were implemented. The purpose is to provide practical guidance and illustrate a fully worked up example of hermeneutic phenomenological work as research praxis. This present paper makes a case that hermeneutic phenomenological work is deta…

Living with disability in a COVID-19 world