title: Weather, disability, vulnerability, and resilience: exploring how youth with physical disabilities experience winter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Having a mobility-related disability can create numerous challenges in navigating the physical and built environment, especially during winter. Such weather-related challenges can be a significant barrier to participation in everyday activities and are linked with increased physical and psychological morbidities. Unfortunately, mobility research--especially among youth - has often overlooked the effects of winter weather.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study explores the experiences of daily activities during Canadian winter among a purposive sample of youth, aged 15-22, who have a physical disability requiring the use of a mobility device. The researchers applied a qualitative design, including 12 in-depth interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings show that youth encounter several vulnerabilities to participating in social and recreational activities in winter, including: (1) physical barriers and social spatial exclusion; (2) health and safety concerns; and (3) psychosocial issues (i.e., worry, isolation and dependence). Youth also discussed several strategies for adapting to barriers and enhancing their participation during winter, including: (1) wheelchair maintenance; (2) awareness of surroundings; (3) practice using mobility devices and planning; and (4) keeping busy and active.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Youth who use a mobility device are vulnerable to health and safety risks and isolation during the winter, but they also display signs of resilience.
authors.affiliation: Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario , Canada and.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yantzi
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003863:Depression; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007053:Ice; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D012914:Snow; D012934:Social Isolation; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D014887:Weather; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007053:Ice
keywords: Climate; disability; mobility; participation; vulnerability; winter; youth