Individuals With Disabilities Attitudes

There are several possible explanations for this shift in attitudes. With the enacting of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Vickers, 2010), the United States began a movement toward the acceptance and inclusion of individuals with disabilities. These policies generated a greater societal awareness of individuals with disabilities in the media and through the integration of individuals with disabilities into schools and communities, which was expected to positively affect attitudes toward such individuals, as well as decrease prejudicial beliefs (Krajewski et al., 2002). Also, Kauffman et al. (2004) suggest that …show more content…
McCarthy and Campbell (1993) claim that attitudes toward individuals with disabilities are directly related to the amount of contact one has had with these individuals. In general, research has indicated that a lack of interaction between people with and without disabilities can lead to negative attitudes and incorrect perceptions (Maras & Brown, 1996). However, the conclusions made concerning how contact affects attitudes can be contradictory. Some studies indicate that contact creates positive attitudes (Beh-Pajooh, 1991; Maras & Brown, 1996; Parsons, Elkins, & Sigafoos, 2000), whereas the results of other studies state that contact produces or reinforces negative attitudes (Goodman, Gottlieb, & Harrison, 1972; Gottlieb & Budoff, 1973). Beh-Pajooh (1991) found that college students who had social contact with individuals with severe mental disabilities expressed more positive attitudes and emotional reactions toward such peers than students who had no contact with individuals with severe mental disabilities. Similarly, another study found that students who attend inclusive high-schools (i.e., schools where students with disabilities are included in general education classes) where they are frequently in contact with individuals with disabilities generally have positive attitudes toward such students and consider them peers (Fisher, Pumpian, & Sax, 1998). Some researchers suggest that contact with individuals with disabilities increases negative attitudes because it can reinforce stereotypes (Goodman et al., 1972). Voeltz (1980) investigated the attitudes of elementary school children toward handicapped peers, and contact with severely handicapped children was related to more accepting attitudes. In university students, peer interaction has a