Environmental barriers and supports to everyday participation: A qualitative insider perspective from people with disabilities
Model System:
TBIReference Type:
JournalAccession No.:
J71244Journal:
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):
, 96, 4, 578-588Publication Website:
Abstract:
Study identified and described environmental factors that influence participation of people with disabilities. Data were obtained through constant comparative, qualitative analyses of transcripts from 36 focus groups across 5 research projects conducted with 201 community-dwelling people with diverse disabilities (primarily spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and stroke) from 8 states. Results revealed 8 major categories of environmental factors that influence participation: built, natural, transportation, assistive technology, information and technology access, social support and societal attitudes, systems and policies, and economics. Participants described these environmental factors as facilitators and/or barriers, enabling and/or disabling participation in different participation contexts. The authors developed a conceptual framework to describe how environmental factors influence the participation of people with disabilities, and a transactional model showing the influence of environmental factors on participation at the micro (individual), mesa (community), and macro (societal) levels. The results have implications for assessing environmental facilitators and barriers to participation within rehabilitation and community settings, evaluating outcomes of environmental interventions, and effecting system and policy changes to target environmental barriers that may result in societal participation disparities versus opportunities.
Author(s):
Hammel, Joy, Magasi, Susan, Heinemann, Allen W., Gray, David B., Stark, Susan, Kisala, Pamela, Carlozzi, Noelle E., Tulsky, David, Garcia, Sofia F., Hahn, Elizabeth A.