Handicap (in)visible et expériences des espaces par les personnes atteintes du Syndrome de Tachycardie Orthostatique Posturale (POTS)

Abstract

This article is based on a survey of people with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) to assess the level of limitation experienced by patients with this condition which can be an (in)visible disability of various kinds depending on the environments frequented and occupied by the patients. The spaces studied here are divided into three main sections: private, public and virtual spaces. The survey is conducted using a French-language questionnaire for French-speaking patients. The aim of this work is to improve knowledge of this disease in the humanities, to give a voice to people with the disease to shed light on the reality of their daily use of spaces, and finally to improve their medical and social care. The results show that many limitations shape the practices of both tangible and intangible spaces of POTS patients. This article reports on their coping strategies, obstacles, and multiple realities.

Keywords

• postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
• invisible disability
• Covid-19
• experienced space
• dwelling
• accessibility