Do Occupational Therapy Goals for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Reflect Participation? A Mapping to the ICF – CY and ICF Core Sets Study

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is on the rise worldwide with an increasing acknowledgement that its continuum of care to enhance participation should be multidisciplinary. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and its derivatives ICF – Children and Youth (ICF – CY) and ICF Core Sets have been increasingly used among health professionals to enhance communication and documentation of outcomes. This study aimed at investigating the comprehensiveness of the ICF – CY and ICF Core Sets with regard to occupational therapy goals and the extent of participation representation in these goals. Forty occupational therapists working with children with ASD stated their most common three long-term goals. The goals were then mapped to the ICF – CY two level classification. The percentage of goals reflecting “Participation” was calculated. The overlap between ICF – CY and the ICF ASD Core Sets was assessed. A total of 155 goals were extracted, of which only seven (4.5%) related to sensory processing were not linked to the ICF – CY categories. 35.1% of the total linked goals were regarded as reflecting “Participation”. 84.5% of ICF – CY categories overlapped with the ICF ASD Core Sets. Categories related to hand function, and taking care of body parts were found to be lacking in the ICF ASD Core Sets. The ICF – CY and the ICF ASD Core Sets may be feasible clinical tools for children with ASD, however, they may not be sufficient to cover occupational therapy goals. Goals also need to be modified to better reflect participation.