Presenter: Jana Iverson

The developmental cascades framework (e.g., Iverson, 2021, 2022) proposes that developmental opportunities in one realm of development have far-reaching, cascading effects on opportunities in other domains, on caregivers, and on the broader physical and social environments. For example, independent mobility offers expanded access to the environment and shapes new opportunities for play, communication, and social interaction. The ON Time Mobility framework (Sabet et al., 2022) emphasizes the importance of providing mobility strategies to very young children with motor delays and disabilities to promote developmentally appropriate opportunities for exploration, socialization, and communication.

I will begin this presentation by providing an overview of current research on the developmental trajectories of children with motor difficulties, drawing on the developmental cascades framework to illustrate how new developmental opportunities in the motor system (upright positioning, mobility) influence and advance opportunities for communication and social interaction, shape caregivers’ actions and communication, and alter the environment. Next, I will discuss the ON Time Mobility Framework and highlight innovative mobility interventions with potential to promote cascading effects across developmental domains (e.g. body-weight support harness system, ride-on cars).

I will conclude by offering examples of ways in which timely mobility supports and can be integrated, highlighting how their combination creates powerful opportunities for children’s communication and participation, and by presenting considerations for families, educators, and clinical providers. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Summarize the developmental cascades framework
2. Describe the ON Time Mobility framework
3. Identify strategies for integrating systems with timely mobility supports and the potential impacts of this approach on children’s developmental opportunities, on their caregivers and educators, and on their environment.