Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8kt4b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-18T14:08:21.276Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Review of Attitudes and Disability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2016

Robert A. J. Warren
Robert A. J. Warren*
Affiliation:
Walkabout Adult Training Centre, Hobart.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The aim of this paper is to bring together recent research that illustrates society’s attitudes towards disabled people. In so doing historical and traditional attitudes — and consequent service provisions are examined briefly both to draw comparisons and to exemplify changes that have occurred. Specific mention is also made of research that has sought to analyse techniques utilised (consciously or otherwise) in affecting change- in order to consider the implications both for organisations promoting the interests of disabled people and for research in this area.

Within society generally the terms ‘disability’ and ‘handicap’ are often used in an interchangeable manner — the context of their usage being dependent upon the user’s particular background, interests, and experience. This ambivalence has been reflected in Australian legislation and statutory rules (for a fuller discussion see Smith, 1980). However, within specific interest groups of disabled people and those who work with them, distinctions are being clarified. The term ‘disability’ is seen to refer to the reduction or loss of physical (i.e. motor, sensory or mental) structure or function while ‘handicap’ includes the personal, environmental and social consequences of a disability. Indeed perceptions held by others may create more difficulties for the individual than the disability itself.

For the purposes of this review the term ‘attitudes’ is used in a broad sense to refer to an “individual’s predisposed thoughts, feelings and actions towards others” (Cho, 1981, p.21), without differentiating between beliefs and values. It is readily recognised that individual attitudes are formed from a wide base of variables such as economic, social and cultural factors; family attitudes; religious groups; past experiences; peer groups and specific personality traits. Similarly the complexity of interacting factors which contribute to change of attitudes is also recognised. Therefore, in order to put indications of change in perspective, an overview of critical factors affecting attitudes towards the disabled is first attempted.

Type
Viewpoints and Reports
Information
Australasian Journal of Special Education , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , November 1985 , pp. 28 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © The Australian Association of Special Education 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Blackburn, K., “Sex and Handicapped People: A Literature Review”, National Rehabilitation Digest, 1979, 3, (3/4), 50–57.Google Scholar
Cho, K., 1981 — International Year of Disabled Persons, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, May 1980.Google Scholar
Clarke, D., Mentally Handicapped People: Living and Learning, Balliere Tindall (Cassell Ltd.) London, 1982.Google Scholar
Committee on Rights of Persons with Handicaps, The Law And Persons With Handicaps, Volumes 1 & 2, Government Printer, South Aust., 1980, 1981.Google Scholar
Donaldson, J., “Changing Attitudes Towards Handicapped Persons: A Review and Analysis of Research”, Exceptional Children, 1980, 46, 504–515.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eidlitz, M., “Analysis of the National Research Studies For I.Y.D.P.”, N.S.W. Secretariat, 1982, unpublished paper.Google Scholar
Elks, M., and West, R., “Attitudes to Mildly Retarded People and Community Living”, Aust. and N.Z. Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1982, 8, 33–41.Google Scholar
Ford, B., “Attitudes towards disabled persons — an historical perspective”, Aust. Rehabilitation Review, 1981, 5, (4), 45–49.Google Scholar
Gething, L., “An investigation of attitudes towards disabled persons in Australia”, Aust. Rehabilitation Review, 1982, 6, (4), 46–50.Google Scholar
“The mass media during I.Y.D.P. — What was achieved”, Media Information Australia, 1984, (in press)Google Scholar
Gliedman, J., and Roth, W., The Unexpected Minority — Handicapped Children In America, (Carnegie Council on Children), Harcourt Bruce Jovanovich, New York, 1980.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goffman, E., Stigmas — Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity, Prentice Hall Inc., New Jersey, U.S.A., 1963, Pelican Edition, 1968.Google Scholar
Haines, A., and Davidson, K., “Employer Receptivity to Hiring a Mentally Retarded Person”, The Australian Journal of Special Education, 1982, 6, (2), 11–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hallas, C., Fraser, W., and MacGillivray, R., The Care and Training of the Mentally Handicapped — A Manual for the Caring Professions, John Wright & Sons, Ltd., Bristol, England, (1958) Seventh Edition, 1982.Google Scholar
Lee, J., “Sexuality and the Intellectually Handicapped Person”, Problems of Handicap, Ed. — Laura, R.S., Macmillan Co. of Aust. Pty. Ltd., Melbourne 1980, 47–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Livneh, H., “Disability and Monstrosity: Further comments”, Rehabilitation Literature, 1980, 41, (11/12), 280–283.Google ScholarPubMed
Livneh, H., “On the Origins of Negative Attitudes Towards People With Disabilities”, Rehabilitation Literature, 1982, 43, (11/12), 338–347.Google Scholar
Mahoney, D., “Factors Affecting the Success of the Mentally Retarded. Retarded in Employment”, Aust. Journal of Mental Retardation, 1976, (4), 38–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maloney, M., and Ward, M., Mental Retardation and Modern Society, Oxford Uni. Press, New York, 1979.Google Scholar
McNair Anderson Asoc. Pty. Ltd., Sydney, “Governments Not Doing Enough For the Disabled”, Aust. Public Opinion Poll (The Gallup Method), Poll No. 06/10/81 press release copy of 5th Dec, 1981.Google Scholar
Nelson, R., Creating Community Acceptance For Handicapped People, Thomas, Charles C., Springfield, Illinois, U.S.A., 1978.Google Scholar
Owens, G., and Birchenall, P., Mental Handicap — the Social Dimensions, Pitman Medical Publishing Co., Ltd., Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Eng., 1979.Google Scholar
Pascoe, S., and Lee, M., “Employer attitudes towards hiring physically handicapped people”, National Rehabilitation Digest, 1980, 4, (3), 29–35.Google Scholar
Smith, N., “Physical Handicap, Disability and Welfare”, Problems of Handicap, Ed. — Laura, R.S., Macmillan Co. of Aust. Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, 1980, 17–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thurer, S., “Disability and Monstrosity — A Look at Literary Distortions of Handicapping Conditions”, Rehabilitation Literature, 1980, 41, (1/2), 12–15.Google Scholar
Ward, J., Parmenter, T.R., Riches, V., and Hauritz, M., “A survey of employer receptivity towards hiring mildly intellectually handicapped people”, National Rehabilitation Digest, 1980, 4, (3), 37–45.Google Scholar
Weinberg, N. and Santana, R., “Comic Books: Champions of the Disabled Stereotype”, Rehabilitation Literature, 1978, 39, (11/12), 327–331.Google Scholar
Wright, B., “Developing Constructive Views of Life With a Disability”, Rehabilitation Literature, 1980, 41, (11/12), 274–279.Google ScholarPubMed