A critical analysis of assistive technologies: An appendage or a commodity

This research argues that the experiences of people with disabilities regarding assistive technologies cannot be reduced to a mere technical encounter; instead, it claims that these experiences encompass various economic, social, and political dimensions. In this context, the study aims to examine the dynamics surrounding prosthetics and orthotics realm through three lines of inquiry. Firstly, the formation and development of the modern prosthetics and orthotics realm are historicized in the context of institutionalization of the modern state and the industrialization process, focusing specially on Turkey, the United States, and Britain. Secondly, within the scope of contemporary Turkey, the institutions, legal regulations, and market dynamics constituting the prosthetics and orthotics realm are explored. Finally, the subjectivity processes of prosthetic users, including practices of identity formation, body perception, and experiences of independent living, are examined by adhering to individuals' statements and placing them within a social context.