Narratives of Ambivalent Meanings of Acquired Physical Disability in Japan

Abstract

Experiences of people with disabilities cannot be simply examined from positive aspects or negative ones; both aspects are required. This study examines the ambivalent meanings of acquired disability through a qualitative analysis of the life stories of Japanese men with spinal cord injuries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 men who had sustained the injury over 10 years ago, at around the age of 20. The participants valued job and welfare or social activities, by managing their impairments. They regarded their personal disability issues as social ones and actively promoted social awareness. However, some of them recounted ambivalent experiences; they maintained the vision that they would become able-bodied people again, or were reluctant to participate in social activities, because they felt inferior to more socially active peers. Examination of ambivalent meanings of acquired disability is necessary for an understanding of the actual situation of people with disabilities.

The Identification of Acquired Disabilities in the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development Countries: A Scoping Review of Impact on Employment Outcomes

“…For example, Bogart et al (2019) focus mainly on the comparison between the stigma on people with congenital disabilities against the stigma on those with acquired disabilities. Tagaki (2016) discusses acquired disabilities within the context of physical impairment resulting from injury and/or illness without providing a definition. Many other articles attempt to either define, or at least to describe the impact or characteristics of an acquired disabilities in various contextual ways.…”

“…On the other hand, extant literature has been clear on the difference between acquired and congenital disabilities, especially around the characteristics and the categorization of the dispositions of disability (Bogart, Japanese study, Tagaki (2016) found that people with an acquired disability took longer to adjust to living with their new condition than those with a congenital disability. The study also found that those with an acquired disability switched between the disability and non-disability aspects of self, often trying to convince themselves that the disability was temporary even when the outlook suggested otherwise.…”

“…Understanding acquired disabilities in the light of participation, particularly in open employment, is critical because work is posited as central to health (Bezyak et al 2018;Chan et al 2010;Milner et al 2020), economic independence (Mbengi et al 2018;Tagaki 2016), social inclusion (Cregan, Kulik & Bainbridge 2017;Załuska et al 2020;Barnes 2012), and other social factors pertaining to a meaningful adult life including membership, identity and other psychosocial factors (Kuiper, Bakker & van der Klink 2016;Milner et al 2014).…”

‘Don’t Stare at Me….’ Exploring the Lived Experiences of Adults With Disability

“…Gibson et al (2007) discovered that the men with muscular dystrophy have placed significance in being ‗out of home' in terms of meeting a friend, going for a walk, visiting relatives or being on their own in a neighborhood. Tagaki (2016) found that to be involved in activities like work be it social or welfare activities, child rearing, and leisure activities was accounted as meaningful in the lives of the people with disabilities and a sense of fulfilling was achieved. People with disabilities reported meaningful aspects of participation as their participation in adaptive sports and recreation activities has instilled in them the sense of independence, feeling of being normal as they too can do tasks, development of social networks, feeling of accomplishment on completion of tasks which further their confidence level and thus giving them sense of being at par as their non-disabled counterparts.…”

“…Living with a disability is beset with both positive and negative aspects (Tagaki 2016). Studies have documented that people with disabilities are confronted with experiences of discrimination, stigmatization in terms of attitudinal barriers, negative labelling, and prejudices in their daily encounters with able-bodied counterparts (Baffoe 2013;Cardona 2013;Deepak et al 2016;Gallagher et al 2011;Gartrell 2010;Haggstrom and Lund 2008;Islam 2008;Koka-Atabey 2013;Lin, Knox, and Barr 2014;Lundberg et al 2011;Mattevi et al 2012;Norlyk, Martinsen, and Kjaer-Petersen 2013;Pande and Tiwari 2011;Papadimitriou 2008;Price et al 2011; Rule and Modipa, 2012;Taub, McLorg, and Bartnick et al 2009;Tijm, Cornielje, and Edusei 2011).…”