The field of technical assistance (Wheelchair) should be considered first of a purely technical point of view, but also in a broader approach, called holistic approach (we try to accommodate all points of view), where be human and social prospects / cultural activities are included. The human attitudes, beliefs and ways of living play an important role in the acceptance and use of technical assistance .
Professionals & specialists defines technical assistance for Pyhsical Disability in the following way: “All proceeds, instrument, strategy, service and practice used by persons with disabilities and older-specially manufactured for sale or free – to prevent, offset, alleviate or remove the disability or disability, and improve the autonomy and quality of life of individuals “.
This definition shows that the concept of technical assistance contains concrete aid techniques and strategies (such as rules or political intentions, local or personal), services (for example the system of service delivery) and practice ( such as methods that professionals use to evaluate and provide information). The development, evaluation and training aid, made in a holistic approach, are very important factors to increase the potential of the user. This gives it a general culture of technical assistance.
THE IMPACT OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
The evolution of technical assistance available on the market has an impact socially and personally. It allows disabled people to choose their own lifestyle and to pursue their personal goals.
Technical assistance may also have a subconscious impact on the user, the environment and society. This impact is a consequence of the general attitude of society towards disability and disabled people.
Attitudes towards the technical assistance
The presence of persons with disabilities in the media, especially on television, increases. The materials (wheelchair , cane, frame walk) are often used as a symbol to represent a person weak and dependent. In this case, technical assistance becomes a stigma to characterize a person.
Television can include people with disabilities in a dramatic context or associate with a happy little comment. It can also avoid the show because their view is scary. On the other hand, the media can describe people with disabilities as happy people, who fight and keep “head high” despite the handicap. The descriptions made by the media show the general attitude of society towards disability and assistive devices. This attitude is, of course, felt by people with disabilities. The stage which makes a person a user of technical aids and tipped like wheelchair & other in another world, is a difficult step to live. It also happens that advisers to aid techniques have negative attitudes.
Impact of technical assistance on the personal life
The way in which the disabled person and his design and accept disability influence, of course, the impact of technical assistance on self-esteem, self-confidence, resourcefulness in activities with his family and other social relations. Some people with disabilities trying to take control of their lives hands maximum use of opportunities offered by technical assistance, others do not and are dependent on others for psychological aid, technical and financial.
The arrival of technical assistance in a family request personal changes from the other family members. It may also require changes in the organization of personal assistance and therefore a change of habits and attitudes on the part of PDAs. The family and other people can support the lifestyle changes caused by the arrival of technical support or reject them. So the family can have an influence on the independence and freedom of the user. It may happen that technical assistance is well accepted by the individual but not by the family, even when technical aids & wheelchair to relieve the family rather than the person with a disability.
You can also find this “common position” on disability in local communities. A disabled person who develops a positive and active attitude may be confronted with prejudices. His travels around the city attract the attention of people from his all-time friend at home and develop a sense of malaise, weakness and misfortune .Not everyone feels uncomfortable when a public role to play. The disabled person may feel alone and uncomfortable in this “public role unwanted”, it has to play in the community. This discomfort can lead to the disabled person no longer wish to take part in the life of society. In communities that have negative attitudes towards people with disabilities can be expected that users of technical assistance will never walk alone and that community members are embarrassed when they meet. They do not know how to behave and think that aid can be made only by professionals. Conversely, a community in which the image of disability is provide a positive environment for encouraging any initiative that the disabled person wants to take to solve its problems. Thus, people expect to encounter people with disabilities with technical aids in the street and can possibly offer them Wheelchair assistance if necessary. Each passing is pleased to offer assistance. Leaving his place in the bus to an elderly person or helping a disabled colleague to eat or go to the toilet are attitudes that tend to be regarded in some communities, as civilized behavior that can be expected of any person polished. It is important that people with disabilities include what are the social expectations in order to prepare for difficult situations or foreign. As it has done for his family, the disabled person can act as an educator of the community and promote the changes caused by its expectations.