Psycho-social Factors Influencing Children’s Attitudes toward People with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Friday 1:45 pm
  In Poster Session: Research Exploring Contextual Influences across the Lifespan: Grounded in Theories of Human Development

Abstract

This presentation presents a study that examined psycho-social factors that influences the attitudes toward people with disabilities in elementary school children. The psycho-social factors studied are contact and empathy. The study was prompted by the lack of social inclusion and acceptance of people with disabilities. As the major barrier is the nondisabled students’ attitudes toward people with disabilities, it is important to identify factors that influence such attitudes. With a sample of 2599 Canadian elementary school children and standardized scales, the result found the attitudes to be related to psycho-social factors of social contact and empathy. The results with recommendations for programs and further research have contributed to programs and policies to improve social inclusion.

Author

• Lily L. Dyson, University of Victoria