Reflections on Bodily Change: The Lived Experience of Disability

摘要: My interest in the phenomenology of illness and disability has grown out my own experience as a person living with multiple sclerosis, an incurable, progressively disabling disease central nervous system. Over past twenty-eight years (since age 30) physical capacities have altered startling number ways. At one time or another affected ability to see, feel, move, hear, stand up, sit walk, control bowels bladder, maintain balance. Some abilities, such sensing position limb, I lost abruptly then slowly regained. Some, clear vision other eye, regained numerous times. Other disappeared never returned. can, for example, no longer walk because am unable lift legs. This latter change has, however, been gradual. For years, although muscles legs gradually weakened, was able get around “on two feet” using first cane, crutches, finally walker support. Several ago forced give up begin full-time use wheelchair mobility.