Self-Regulated Dependency: Ethical Reflections on Interdependence and Help in Adapted Physical Activity

Abstract

This article explores the ethical implications of the goal offunctional independence for persons with disabilities. Central toindependence is protection against the fear and uncertainty of futuredependency and assurance of a level of social status. Moreover,independence reflects individualism, autonomy and control ofdecisions about one's life. Dependency, in contrast, implies the inability to do things for oneself and reliance on others to assist with tasks of everyday life. The ethics of independence are explored within the context of the medical and social constructionist models of disability and contrasted against the ethics of support that underscores self-regulated dependency. Self-regulated dependency gives emphasis to the need for support created through relationships, choices and the management of resources. Finally, the article concludes with a challenge to meaningfully translate the principles of ethics to the multiplicity of adapted physical activity contexts.