Abstract
This study examined the ambivalent meanings of acquired disability through a qualitative analysis of the life stories of people with spinal cord injuries. Semi-structured interviews with ten men, each of whom had sustained spinal cord injury for 20 years, revealed that they managed their mobility impairments independently or by using social services, and were often enthusiastic about their job, social activities and family issues. They actively promoted social awareness of disability issues, criticized current disability policies, and often complained of discrimination by public transportation personnel. Some participants were unhesitant about using a wheelchair in public, because they believed this would help raise disability awareness. At the same time some participants were reluctant to participate in social activities, because they felt some how inferior to more socially active peers. Other participants maintained the vision that they would become able-bodied again. These results indicate that a focus on ambivalent meanings of acquired disability is necessary for an understanding of the actual situation of people with disabilities.
