How would I live with a disability? Expectations of bio-psychosocial consequences and assistive technology use

Abstract

Purpose: It is widely accepted that social dimensions are crucial when facing a disability. More specifically, a normative incentive to conceal one’s disability, which can lead to abandonment of assistive technology devices (ATD), is often reported. This study seeks to examine this norm.

Method: The expected consequences of having a disability were measured using a sample of 549 able-bodied students from three groups.

Results: The results showed that the expected consequences of having a disability and therefore the descriptive norms associated with disability were less negative for the participants who were familiar with disability, but higher for sports students. Furthermore, the relation between objective and subjective consequences (having a disability and feeling disabled, respectively) and public and private use of ATD were modelled. The model shows that both higher objective and lower subjective consequences were linked to higher ATD use in public and, indirectly, in private.

Conclusion: The present study contributes to the literature on the normative elements related to the use of ATD. Indeed, it shows that when a person makes his/her disability a part of him/herself, she/he is expected to hide it and therefore to avoid using ATD. However, this assessment proves to be context-dependent and calls for the implementation of handicap awareness programs.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• If faced with a disability, expecting to feel disabled and expecting lower objective consequences are linked to lower ATD use.

• Expected ATD use in private seems to be related to ATD use in public but not to the expected consequences of the disability.

• Expectations and therefore social norms about having a disability are highly context-dependent which encourages the implementation of handicap awareness programs.

Keywords:

• Assistive technology
• disability
• expectations
• social norms
• stigma

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.