title: A survey on feasibility of ICF-CY use to describe persisting difficulties in executing tasks and activities of children and adolescent with disability in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The criterion for the provision of disability benefits to people under 18 in Italy is the presence of persistent difficulties in carrying out the duties and functions of their own age; however, no national guidelines are available to support the Disability Commissions in assessing such difficulties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study identified the different kinds of persisting difficulties in performing tasks and activities of children and adolescents with disability in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a protocol based on a selection of 55 categories taken from the Activity and Participation components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health - Children and Youth version. Problems were represented dividing children by age groups, and categories were selected as relevant if reported by 20% of the cases as very severe/complete problems. A count-based methodology was chosen and categories were counted at the level of domain, showing differences related to age groups. Count-based complexity and severity indexes were calculated, reflecting the global amount of problems and the portion of very severe/complete ones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 415 children with disability enrolled in the study, 290 had persisting difficulties, with those referring to domestic life, major life areas and learning being the most common, and with specific age-related trends. The highest number of problems was reported for children in the 4-6 year age group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our approach is meant to foster a way toward understanding disability and functioning as a continuum, based on the amount and severity of difficulties that children may have, as opposed to a categorical, diagnosis-based approach.
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy. Electronic address: paolo.meucci@istituto-besta.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meucci
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy.
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.affiliation: IRCCS E. Medea Scientific Institute, Conegliano-Pieve di Soligo Research Centre, Via Costa Alta 37, 31015 Conegliano, TV, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinuzzi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS E. Medea Scientific Institute, Conegliano-Pieve di Soligo Research Centre, Via Costa Alta 37, 31015 Conegliano, TV, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS E. Medea Scientific Institute, Conegliano-Pieve di Soligo Research Centre, Via Costa Alta 37, 31015 Conegliano, TV, Italy.
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buffoni
authors.affiliation: Division of Child-Neuropsychiatry, ASL Biella, Via Caraccio 24, 13900 Biella, BI, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fusaro
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raggi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male
keywords: Age-specific; Children; Disability; ICF-based approach