Olá Carlos

Desculpem a demora do inicio na minha participação, mas isto das plataformas on-line ainda não são a minha forma mais habitual de comunicação...

Na sequência da nossa reunião, estou a preparar uma candidatura para a FCT, que parte do meu projecto de doutoramento,mas que me parece ganharia muito com a participação da FEUP.

A proposta em termos gerais já foi debatida no ID+ (no último sábado) e eu estou a compliar um primeiro draft do documento de candidatura, que gostava de discutir com a FEUP para afinarmos as possíveis agendas de investigação.

Só para dar uma ideia geral do enfoque em que estou a desenvolver a proposta envio os abstracts dos dois ultimos papers que escrevi e que foram aceites, nas conferencias "Dare to Desire"e "Include 2009". Gostava de disponibilizar os papers completos mas não sei como fazê-lo, se calhar o melhor é enviar por e-mail para quem estiver interesado.

Designing out stigma - The role of objects in the construction of disabled people´s identity

It is an unmistakable fact that objects hold an important role in the construction of identity, acting as markers of a certain lifestyle. In this process of symbolic construction, to own a certain object entails more often than not a high social status.

However, some objects can also carry with them stigma: owning them brings about a discrediting effect in the construction of the owner`s identity.

For people with disabilities the use of objects employed for mitigate their impairment (as a wheelchair or a walking aid) often act as a symbol of stigma and empathize the prejudices to the people who use them.

Designing out stigma – The potential of contradictory symbolic imaginaries

This paper discusses a work-in-progress research project. Its goals are to understand how one can overcome the stigmatizing effect associated to the use of products especially designed for disabled people and compensate this phenomenon using contradictory symbolic imaginaries.

The stigmatizing effect of this kind of objects generates a double negative role for the people who use them: on the one hand, it becomes a visible, identifying sign that underlines social discrimination; on the other hand, it exacts upon the disabled person feelings of shame which can lead to further depression or self-exclusion.

To assure a control over the significance-attribution processes on these objects, it is paramount to develop solutions that can tackle not only the life-support needs but also the expectations towards social integration and interaction.

Therefore, we will forward a hypothesis of using contradictory symbols to manipulate this very stigmatizing dimension of objects, by discussing a design project and an evaluation model that will allow us to assess its applicability in real life contexts.