The ultimate goal of spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation is often described as reintegration into the community, which includes a person’s full inclusion and participation in the physical and social environment. The International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICF) is the international framework that explains the nature and role of “participation.” Case studies have been used to illustrate the utility of the ICF to identify and evaluate problems and needs in participation during inpatient rehabilitation programs. It could be shown that the ICF allows for systematic data collection and, in particular, allows clinicians to more fully describe the extent to which a spinal cord–injured person’s levels of activity and participation may be affected. In particular, differences between levels of capacity and performance could be shown to be affected by the impact of environmental factors.

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