ABSTRACT
Goodness of Fit ............................................................................................................... 360 Seeing the Big Picture ..................................................................................................... 360 Resources ....................................................................................................................... 361
Understanding the Impoverished Community ............................................................. 361 Analyzing and Harnessing the Situation ......................................................................... 362
When Is a Person “Disabled”? ..................................................................................... 362 When Is a Device “Functional”? ...................................................................................... 363
High Technology Is Not Always the Best Solution. ...................................................... 363 A Case Study Example-Mobility ............................................................................ 363 A Case Study Example-“Technology” from the Ground Up .................................. 364
Keep the Disabled Child in the Family and Community “Loop” ...................................... 365 Designing Large-Scale Intervention Programs ............................................................... 366
Combining the Best and Throwing out the Rest .......................................................... 366 PROJIMO as an Example of a Successful Intervention Program .................................... 368 Case Study Examples ..................................................................................................... 370
#1 Mario’s Story: Partners in Problem Solving ............................................................. 370 #2 Marcelo’s Story: The Total Picture, from Disability to Ability. .................................. 370 #3 Beno’s Story: Development of a “Low-Tech” Assistive Device. ............................. 372 #4 Lino’s Story: Children with Disabilities Develop Assistive Devices ........................ 373
#5 David and Rick Werner’s Stories: Partners in Problem Solving .............................. 374 David’s Story ................................................................................................................ 374 Rick’s Story .................................................................................................................. 377 #6 Carlos’ Story: From Helpless to Helper. .................................................................. 378
Communities as Partners ................................................................................................ 385 Child-to-Child: A New Type of Program .......................................................................... 386
Raising Awareness ...................................................................................................... 386 Case Study: Ramona from Nicaragua ......................................................................... 387
Disabilities, Human Rights, and Politics .......................................................................... 391 Case Study: Alejandro ................................................................................................. 391 Case Study: Disabled Women and Children Protect the Village Doctor ..................... 392
The Politics of Poverty ..................................................................................................... 392 Case Study: Julio ......................................................................................................... 392
Taking a Role in Social Change ...................................................................................... 394 Case Study: Roberto’s Involvement ............................................................................. 395
Conclusions ..................................................................................................................... 395
GOODNESS OF FIT
In the villages of third world countries, no one talks about “ergonomics” and few know what it means. Even the term “appropriate technology” must be used carefully. In countries branded as “less developed,” villagers wonder if “appropriate” means they are expected to settle for second-rate solutions, because what is appropriate in one setting is not necessarily appropriate in another.
