“This is my way”: reimagining disability, in/dependence and interconnectedness of persons and assistive technologies

Abstract

Purpose: Postmodernism provides a radical alternative to the dominant discourses of Western societies that emphasize autonomy and independence. It suggests a reimagining of the relationship between the self and the body and the increasingly blurred boundaries between biology and machine. The purpose of this article is to explore in/dependence through a discussion of interconnectedness of persons and assistive technologies. Key messages: Drawing on postmodern theories, we discuss the interconnections inherent in disability experiences through the case example of Mimi, an adolescent girl with severe physical disabilities. We consider how Mimi, her assistive technologies and her parents can be viewed as assemblages of bodies/technologies/subjectivities that together achieve a set of practices. An examination of these various couplings suggests different understandings of disability that open up possibilities for multiple connections and reimagines dependencies as connectivities. Conclusions: Connectivity can be embraced to explore multiple ways of being-in-the-world for all persons and problematizes the goals of independence inherent in rehabilitation practices.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• “Dependency” has a negative social connotation that is challenged by postmodern ideas of dynamic connectivity.

• Connectivity offers an alternative lens for conceptualizing relationships between disabled people, their technologies and caregivers.

• Connectivity suggests a rethinking the goals of independence inherent in rehabilitation practices.

Keywords::

• Assistive technology
• children
• disability
• independence
• postmodernism
• subjectivity

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank “Mimi” and her family for giving so generously of their time and wisdom. We would also like to thank the following people who contributed to the research: Brenda Gladstone, Gail Teachman, Laura Sky and the team at Sky Works Charitable Foundation, Bhavnita Mistry and Margot McMain-Klein.

Declarations of Interest: This work was supported in part by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant [TWC-95045], and a CIHR Health Care, Technology and Place, Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement Team Grant. Dr. Gibson is supported by a Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program Career Development Award.