Spotlight on Siblings: Considering Social Context in Home Modification Practice

Jessica Moller, Alison Schneider and Emily J. Steel
Additional contact information
Jessica Moller: Occupational Therapy, Djerriwarrh Health Services, Bacchus Marsh 3340, Australia
Alison Schneider: Occupational Therapy, Djerriwarrh Health Services, Bacchus Marsh 3340, Australia
Emily J. Steel: School of Health & Wellbeing, The University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, QLD 4305, Australia

Societies, 2019, vol. 9, issue 2, 1-8

Abstract: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) recognizes the role of Assistive Technologies (AT) in enabling independent living and inclusion of people with disabilities. Research into the provision of AT and disability services in general has highlighted the importance of social context and its influence on individual outcomes. However, there is little recognition of sibling roles, relationships and rights in the guidance available for practitioners. This paper explores the socio-technical context of home modification practice and the importance of involving siblings. The international context and concepts behind AT provision, including home modifications, and issues emerging from practice in Australia’s new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are discussed. Based on extensive practical experience and peer review, the “5 S’s for Siblings” is presented as a practice approach for involving siblings in the home modification process. Policy and practice implications are presented, including communication strategies for working in partnership with individuals and their families, and alignment with national standards and human rights principles. Involving siblings in the home modification process recognizes the important role they play in the lives of people with disabilities, both now and in the future.

Keywords: siblings; disability; human rights; assistive technology; home modifications; social context; National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/9/2/30/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/9/2/30/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:9:y:2019:i:2:p:30-:d:225401

Access Statistics for this article

Societies is currently edited by Ms. Farrah Sun

More articles in Societies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().