title: Classification in childhood disability: focusing on function in the 21st century.
abstract: Classification systems in health care are usually based on current understanding of the condition. They are often derived empirically and adopted applying sound principles of measurement science to assess whether they are reliable (consistent) and valid (true) for the purposes to which they are applied. In the past 15 years, the authors have developed and validated classification systems for specific aspects of everyday function in people with cerebral palsy--gross motor function, manual abilities, and communicative function. This article describes the approaches used to conceptualize each aspect of function, develop the tools, and assess their reliability and validity. We report on the utility of each system with respect to clinical applicability, use of these tools for research, and the uptake and impact that they have had around the world. We hope that readers will find these accounts interesting, relevant, and applicable to their daily work with children and youth with disabilities.
authors.affiliation: CanChild Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Rosenbau@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann-Christin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Eliasson
authors.affiliation: Division of Communication Disorders, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
authors.forename: Mary Jo Cooley
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hidecker
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Palisano
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D002965:Classification; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans
keywords: CFCS; GMFCS; MACS; childhood disability; functional classification