Rescigno L
Elena, 15 years old. Autonomy in daily life for a person with an outcome of severe head injury
Editorial data: Portale SIVA Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi
Abstract: This paper presents the story of a 15 years old girl that one day, apparently similar to another, going out of school has a car accident. The awakening after the four long, agonizing days in a coma reassures her family, but for Elena is just the beginning of a long journey full of changes and of situations in which it is hard to accept a reality and a body that she does not recognize as hers. The paper describes the progressive return of Elena to a life still to be lived and felt though the circumstances have changed. In particular, we focused on the solutions chosen for mobility (wheelchair with the seating system), for the return home (removal of architectural barriers at home), for personal autonomy and communication (alphabetical communicator and later communication software).
Year of publication: 2009
Type of document: Case studies/experiences
Last update: May 2013