Article

The aim of this study was to describe the everyday life experience of
being an experienced active wheelchair user in Sweden. METHOD: A qualitative
approach, based on interviews, was chosen. Eleven active wheelchair users were
interviewed; the results analysed by means of a thematic content analysis.
RESULTS: Two main categories, each with two sub-categories emerged: (1)
Challenges and changes (life-course perspective);
and (2) the ambassador of
differentness (activities and situations). The first sub-categories: (1a) the
changing self (attitudes and values); and (1b) getting older (the meaning of
experiences for future expectations). The second sub-categories: (2a) the
responsible representative (having to represent a general image of disability);
and (2b) other's attitudes (interactants' expressions of attitudes). CONCLUSIONS:
An active wheelchair user can be seen as an open person, a representative of
other wheelchair users. Interactants can actively engage in solving non-existing
problems, or over-estimate actual problems, i.e. over-attentiveness. The personal
experience can change over time, e.g. to care less about over-attentiveness, or
to engage less in situations where over-attentiveness is likely to occur, i.e.
impression management. Also, regular interactants can learn to see the wheelchair
as something normal, sometimes even forgetting it. Implications for
Rehabilitation To use an active wheelchair affects interaction in everyday life,
rendering the user an open person, possible to address at will as a
representative of other users as well. The experienced user of an active
wheelchair is the expert concerning her/his present capacity in activities in
everyday life; possible obstacles remain inert until defined otherwise by the
user.

Langue : ANGLAIS