title: Getting on with life: positive experiences of living with a spinal cord injury.
abstract: Currently, the dominant cultural beliefs toward disability are negative, and the existing literature is limited with respect to examining how people are using and/or viewing their disabilities positively. The purpose of this study was to identify how individuals living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) viewed and/or used their disability positively, and what contextual influences facilitated this positive approach. This study was a secondary analysis of qualitative data from a larger study. The findings revealed three levels at which disability was viewed and/or used positively by people with SCI: self, peers, and disability community. In addition, several aspects of the participants' situations were found to facilitate this positive view and/or use of disability: personality, spirituality, support systems, and acceptance of one's disability. The findings reveal that individuals with SCI are viewing and/or using their disabilities positively in many different ways. This study has significant implications for the direction of future research and for health care professionals who need to increase their advocacy and facilitating roles.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weitzner
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Surca
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiese
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dion
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Roussos
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Renwick
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010379:Peer Group; D011594:Psychometrics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome