De l’évolution des représentations du handicap à l’évolution des modèles de conception des appareillages

The device occupies an important place in the therapeutic arsenal used in cerebral palsy. The molded seat (or seat corset), the pelvic-pedal splints for verticalization, the night splints represent the daily life of a large number of cerebral palsy subjects. Unfortunately, it is a source of pain or discomfort, which limits its use when the initial objectives seemed relevant. The tools allowing the development of the specifications of these devices have evolved in connection with the representation that we have of disability and of the person with a disability. This evolution opens up new perspectives in the representation and design of the device: This would no longer be only a tool for compensating for a deficiency but that of an adaptive and enabling tool.