Considering Material Culture in Assessing Assistive Devices: “Breaking up the Rhythm”

Abstract

This paper reports on a project that looked at the meaning stroke survivors assigned to assistive devices. Material culture theory served as a framework to help stroke survivors explicitly consider [dis]ability as a discursive object with a socially constructed meaning that influenced how they thought about themselves with impairment. Material culture theory informed the design (taking and talking to their peers about photos of anything that assisted) and analysis of the meaning of the assistive devices project. In our analysis of the narratives, survivors assigned three types of meanings to the assistive devices: markers of progress, symbolic objects of disability, and the possibility of independent participation. Notably, the meaning of assistive devices as progress, [dis]ability, and [poss]ability was equally evident as participants talked about mobility, everyday activities, and services. We discuss how considering [dis]ability as a discursive object in the situation might have enabled stroke survivors to participate.

Cultural influences on perception of disability and disabled people: a comparison of opinions from students in the United Kingdom (UK) Pakistan (PAK) about a generic wheelchair using a semantic differential scale

“…Cultural meanings ascribed to the artefacts continually unfold during an interaction and rely on the context within which they are understood [49,50]. Distinctive cultural settings may give or assign different a meaning to the artefact, such as societal values and beliefs systems or doctrine that are likely to result in a changed in meaning(s) associated with the product [51].…”

The status and use of prosthetic devices by persons with lower limb amputation in Rwanda

“…Lower limb amputees without prostheses as mobility assistive devices have increasingly had an impact on their lives, such as the decline of physical functioning and quality of life at the individual, family and society levels (Ng et al 2020 ). Without lower limb prostheses, PLLA are often excluded and locked into persistent poverty and isolation (Anderson, Kaiser Gladwin & Mayo 2016 ). However, if PLLA are given prosthetic devices and rehabilitated back to full functional capacity to carry out daily activities and participate actively and productively in community life (Smith et al 2018a ), this may reduce dependence on both community and their families, hence improving quality of life.…”