Institutional impact on self concept among persons with spinal cord injury.

This article discusses how experiences during rehabilitation may influence self concept among individuals who have sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Specifically, experiences during rehabilitation may promote an 'inculcation' of the disabled self coupled with loss of the nondisabled self. These experiences are illustrated by personal accounts of individuals with SCI. These data indicate that aspects of the rehabilitation process may need to be restructured to provide better services for persons with disabilities.