There are only a few studies to investigate the presence of children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities in their home and family environment. The aim of this paper is to consider and to summarize the participation of children in family activities as to what extent they can actually be family members. "Participation" can be defined, on the one hand, as the person’s physical presence at a place or during some activity, on the other hand, as a commitment, active participation in the activity. But participation in an activity or event is only possible if the activity occurs and is also offered to children or adults. In this sense, children and adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities rely heavily on others.  Active participation in family life may be affected, hindered or promoted by several factors, for example, the characteristics of the child, the frequency of family activities, the family income, the mother's and father's educational level, the habits, the strategies of implementation or eventually the personal assistant.