Date of Award

2011

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Program

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Supervisor

Prof. Sandra Hobson

Abstract

People aging with adult-onset physical disabilities are a group who have been ; overlooked in the recent aging boom. Their needs differ greatly from the able-bodied population and understanding their perceptions may help to better inform policy and practice agendas. This constructivist grounded theory study used focus groups and interviews with participants. Concepts identified were said to be factors influencing the perceptions of people aging with disability. These factors included the entanglement of aging and disability, the multiplicity of experiences, financial resources, attitude and self-efficacy, and family and social support. These factors were used to create the Model of Aging with Disability (MAWD), a model that explains the process of both aging and disability together. Unlike the mainstream hypotheses and one set of models that look at aging with disability, this model is balanced in that it captures a range of experiences including positive, negative, and neutral ones.

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