I’m pleased to share a chapter that is especially close to my heart and has just been published:
Şahinol, M. (2025). Somatechnische Erfahrungen. Ethnographische Gespräche mit Kindern mit Prothesen aus dem 3D-Drucker. In: Stock, R., et al. Dis/Ability und digitale Medien. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-46724-1_9
This chapter examines the soma-technical experiences of children using 3D-printed prosthetic devices provided by the e-NABLE network—an international volunteer community that supports individuals with limb differences. The study is based on my project “Additive Manufacturing: Enabling-Technologies in Childhood”. These assistive technologies are designed to facilitate fuller participation in everyday activities by compensating for physical differences. Nonetheless, their application is significantly influenced by cultural practices and social contexts.
The chapter reflects on methods and interdisciplinary strategies for conducting sensitive ethnographic conversations with children with limb differences, focusing on how they perceive and engage with their prostheses. The children were actively involved in shaping the research process—contributing their own ideas, tools, and perspectives. This challenged conventional hierarchies of knowledge production and highlighted their agency in evaluating and relating to assistive technologies.
I also had the pleasure of co-authoring the introductory chapter of the volume Dis/Ability und digitale Medien1, which offers a theoretical and historical foundation and situates dis/ability and digital media in broader societal contexts:
Stock, R., Meier zu Verl, C., Şahinol, M., Spöhrer, M., Wiechern, A.-L. (2025). Einleitung: Nicht-/Behinderung und Medien im Kontext der Digitalisierung. In: Stock, R., et al. Dis/Ability und digitale Medien. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-46724-1_1
I would like to sincerely thank the reviewers for their thoughtful and constructive feedback, which significantly contributed to the development of both chapters.
- The edited volume is the result of long-term collaboration within our DFG network and was published by Springer VS in 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-46724-1 ↩︎