Self-Empowerment among Adults with Severe Physical Disability: A Case Study

Abstract

Like other minorities, people with disabilities have often been inhibited from exercising political self-determination. Given the many constraints of disability, lack of experience with democracy is not surprising. The combined effects of physical, communicative or emotionalimpairments, social stigma, and isolation, are substantial obstacles to overcome on the path to self-determination. An independent living, agency-sponsored residential setting for severely physically disabled adults was studied through overt observation methods for 22 months. The purpose was toobserve residents' council actions and expressions of group interests. The council displayed several phases of political structure and behavior. These phases were related to staff and administrative considerations as well as the residents' emerging demonstrations of self-empowerment at the grouplevel. The capacity for self-advocacy emerged as a dynamic enterprise that was clearly related to the structure and interests of the service agency. The study presents detailed qualitative observations in an effort to document how collective self-empowerment actually occurs for a seriouslydisadvantaged group that is supported by a service agency. (Journal abstract, edited.)