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Investigating meaning in uses of assistive devices: implications of social and professional contexts

Published: 25 October 2010 Publication History

Abstract

People with disabilities use assistive devices both to bridge accessibility gaps in everyday tasks, and to augment inaccessible technologies, such as desktop computers. This interview study investigates how people with disabilities are affected when using assistive devices in professional and social situations. Participants were asked about different contexts of use, and how people around them reacted to their devices. Key findings were that individuals experienced issues of self consciousness and empowerment when using assistive devices and that specific aspects of assistive device design, such as size and perceived sleekness, contributed to these feelings.

References

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Turkle, S., Evocative Objects. 2007, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
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Csikszentmihalyi, M. and E. Rochberg-Halton, The meaning of things : domestic symbols and the self. 1981, New York: Cambridge University Press.
[3]
Goffman, E., The presentation of self in everyday life. 1959, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.
[4]
Parette, P. and M. Scherer, Assistive Technology Use and Stigma. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 2004. 39(3): p. 217--26.
[5]
Hemmingsson, H., H. Lidstrom, and L. Nygard, Use of assistive technology devices in mainstream schools: students' perspective.(Report). AJOT: American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2009. 63(4): p. 463(10).
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Pape, T.L.-B., J. Kim, and B. Weiner, The shaping of individual meanings assigned to assistive technology: a review of personal factors. Disability and Rehabilitation, 2002. 24(1/2/3): p. 5--20.

Cited By

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  • (2024)Receptive Design Methodologies: Human-Centered Design methodologies receptive to adaptation, accessibility and inclusion.Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility10.1145/3663548.3688530(1-4)Online publication date: 27-Oct-2024
  • (2023)Willingness of people with severe visual impairments to accept new transportation assistive technologiesTechnology and Disability10.3233/TAD-22150235:2(131-146)Online publication date: 1-May-2023
  • (2023)Exploring the User Experience of an AI-based Smartphone Navigation Assistant for People with Visual ImpairmentsProceedings of the 15th Biannual Conference of the Italian SIGCHI Chapter10.1145/3605390.3605421(1-8)Online publication date: 20-Sep-2023
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  1. Investigating meaning in uses of assistive devices: implications of social and professional contexts

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      cover image ACM Conferences
      ASSETS '10: Proceedings of the 12th international ACM SIGACCESS conference on Computers and accessibility
      October 2010
      346 pages
      ISBN:9781605588810
      DOI:10.1145/1878803

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      Association for Computing Machinery

      New York, NY, United States

      Publication History

      Published: 25 October 2010

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      Author Tags

      1. accessibility
      2. assistive device
      3. assistive technology

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      • Extended-abstract

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      ASSETS '10
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      Overall Acceptance Rate 436 of 1,556 submissions, 28%

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      ASSETS '25

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      Cited By

      View all
      • (2024)Receptive Design Methodologies: Human-Centered Design methodologies receptive to adaptation, accessibility and inclusion.Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility10.1145/3663548.3688530(1-4)Online publication date: 27-Oct-2024
      • (2023)Willingness of people with severe visual impairments to accept new transportation assistive technologiesTechnology and Disability10.3233/TAD-22150235:2(131-146)Online publication date: 1-May-2023
      • (2023)Exploring the User Experience of an AI-based Smartphone Navigation Assistant for People with Visual ImpairmentsProceedings of the 15th Biannual Conference of the Italian SIGCHI Chapter10.1145/3605390.3605421(1-8)Online publication date: 20-Sep-2023
      • (2023)Authentication Challenges in Customer Service Settings Experienced by Deaf and Hard of Hearing PeopleExtended Abstracts of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3544549.3585707(1-8)Online publication date: 19-Apr-2023
      • (2023)Adoption of new transportation assistive technologies by people with mild intellectual disabilitiesDisability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology10.1080/17483107.2023.2286522(1-11)Online publication date: Dec-2023
      • (2023)Aesthetics Model Applied for Older Adults: Daily Life Assistive Device StudyPhysical & Occupational Therapy In Geriatrics10.1080/02703181.2023.222073241:4(625-653)Online publication date: 12-Jun-2023
      • (2017)Embracing ErrorsProceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3025453.3025528(4158-4169)Online publication date: 2-May-2017
      • (2013)An assistive technology for hearing-impaired persons: Analysis, requirements and architecture2013 35th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC)10.1109/EMBC.2013.6610597(4702-4705)Online publication date: Jul-2013
      • (2012)A new approach for the design of assistive technologiesACM SIGACCESS Accessibility and Computing10.1145/2140446.2140456(45-48)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2012

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