1. A voice in the chorus: perspectives of young men of color on their disabilities, identities, and peer-mentors.
- Author
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Hernandez B
- Subjects
- *
SPINAL cord injuries , *GUNSHOT wounds , *DISABILITY studies , *DISABILITIES , *DISEASES , *WOUNDS & injuries ,PEOPLE with disabilities research - Abstract
With the rise of violence during the 1990s, the number of persons who acquired a spinal cord injury as a result of gunshot trauma increased dramatically in the United States. This qualitative study examined disability, race, and contribution of peer-mentors to the development of identity. Six men with a violence-related spinal cord injury participated in a focus group. They were injured for at least two years, making positive gains in their lives, and training to become peer-mentors at a rehabilitation hospital. In addition, 16 men with a newly-acquired spinal cord injury from gunshot trauma participated in an individual interview. These sixteen participants were all mentees (or recipients) of the peer-mentor program. Principles of grounded theory were used to code and analyze data. Data converged on three main themes: (1) disability viewed as a wake-up call or blessing, (2) disability viewed as a turning point, and (3) disability viewed as identity transforming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005
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