Model of Competence: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Person-Environment Interaction for Persons with Motor Disabilities

Abstract

The "Model of Competence" has been recently elaborated to help expand our understanding relating to a person's interaction with the environment. Specifically, it seeks to deal with the issues related to the home adaptation (the home layout and equipment) for a person living with motor disabilities. This theoretical model takes into account various characteristics of the person as well as of the environment, by re-grouping six concepts: person, environment, activity, role, competence and handicap situation. The "Model of Competence" is distinct because it includes: (1) both the human and the nonhuman dimension of the environment; (2) personal characteristics other than the strictly physical ones; (3) a clear identification of the interaction between the person and the environment; and (4) a means of operationalizing it via an assessment instrument. This model proposes an innovative approach to the person-environment relation in terms of personalizing accessibility, and thereby offers a new approach to understanding the concept of universal access. It has been developed for research and application, and addresses several disciplines.

Content validity of a home-based person-environment interaction assessment tool for visually impaired adults

“…Because each client and each home are unique, professionals need an assessment tool based on a conceptual framework [17,[21][22][62][63]. The Model of Competence [66] was kept as the framework for the HOPE-Visual Version [51,[96][97]. This model should be better explained to professionals who will use the assessment tool.…”

“…The originality of this design is that the activity is considered the content of the interaction between the person and his or her environment [22]. In the Model of Competence [65] and in the HOPE [20,67], the activity represents the interaction between the person and the environment-that is, the relationship between the person and his or her nonhuman environment is mainly observed in activities [66].…”

“…Since 2002, however, no other instrument has included the elements highlighted by Rousseau et al The HOPE assessment tool, which was developed for individuals with motor disabilities, may also be applicable for use with visually impaired persons. Based on the Model of Competence, an explanatory model of the personenvironment relationship [20,66], the HOPE provides a structured analysis, allowing the evaluator to better identify and understand the different personal, environmental, and interactive components of a home context [67]. The HOPE's content validity [20], test-retest reliability [68], and interrater reliability are high [69].…”

“…This model gives rehabilitation professionals and researchers a way to identify and analyze unique elements that play a role in a home context and prevents an overor underestimation of the interaction misfits and, consequently, of the intervention [74]. The Model of Competence articulates six concepts: (1) person [75], (2) environment [26,74], (3) roles [77][78][79], (4) activities [79], (5) competence situation [66,[80][81], and (6) handicap-created situation [82]. In this model, the person is considered a mind/ body unit that continuously interacts with his or her immediate environment (home), which consists of two dimensions: human and nonhuman.…”

“…The Model of Competence [20,27,66,74] allows an in-depth analysis of the interaction between a person and his or her environment, particularly in a home context [21]. This model gives rehabilitation professionals and researchers a way to identify and analyze unique elements that play a role in a home context and prevents an overor underestimation of the interaction misfits and, consequently, of the intervention [74].…”