Attitudes Toward Individuals with Disabilities: The Effects of Contact with Different Disability Types

Abstract

Contact with individuals with disabilities influences positive attitudes toward such individuals. This research investigated if contact with individuals with specific disabilities has an effect on attitudes toward other disabilities. Specifically, this research investigated physical, developmental and behavioral disabilities. While participants reported the most contact with individuals with physical disabilities and the most negative attitudes toward individuals with developmental disabilities, contact with individuals with behavioral disabilities was the best predictor of positive attitudes toward all disability types. This demonstrates that the relation between contact and attitudes is more nuanced than originally thought and can help us better understand disability related bias.

Secondary transfer effect among children: The role of social dominance orientation and outgroup attitudes

“…There is now consistent correlational (Brylka, Jasinskaja‐Lahti, & Mahonen, ; Hindriks, Verkuyten, & Coenders, ; Schmid, Hewstone, & Tausch, ), longitudinal (Eller & Abrams, ; Study 1; Mahonen & Jasinskaja‐Lathi, ; Tausch et al ., ; Study 4; Van Laar, Levin, Sinclair, & Sidanius, ), and experimental evidence (Shook et al ., ) that contact effects transfer to outgroups uninvolved in the contact situation. In line with the finding that generalization of attitudes from one attitude object to another attitude object is stronger if attitude objects are similar (Fazio, Eiser, & Shook, ; Walther, ), most research examined and found secondary transfer effects between similar groups, such as between ethnic outgroups (Gaither & Sommers, ), or between groups characterized by different types of disabilities (Barr & Bracchitta, ).…”

Design in the Public Square

“…DirectorLV1 mentioned that the Newport Aquatic Center has expressed interest in supporting some type of installation to make traversal easier for blind paddlers. -Field Notes While we are unable to broadly claim that the public co-design orientation of our work infuenced staf members at the Newport Aquatic Center, our observations align with positive changes in attitude associated with mixed-ability exposure [8]. In an interview conducted with DirectorLV1, we explored his thoughts about the changes: I think it [public co-design] has had an impact, more so with the staf at Newport Aquatic Center than with the general public-they need to see more, but for the staf, they are more aware of what we are doing here and we are starting to see that efect more and more.…”

“…Though the Americans with Disabilities Act [38] has brought access to vital services for the disability community, negative stereotypes and awareness towards people with disability pervade contemporary culture [50,58]. It is generally accepted that increased exposure can positively afect attitudes towards disability, but the mechanisms for supporting contact are less understood [8,53]. Exposure alone does not appear to sufciently promote positive attitudes in mixed-ability groups [25].…”

Cross‐group friendships and psychological well‐being: A dual pathway through social integration and empowerment

“…We treated cross‐group friendships as the independent variable, perceived attitudes from the majority group and collective self‐esteem as the first set of mediators and outgroup attitudes and collective action tendencies as the subsequent set of mediators, and psychological well‐being as the dependent variable. We also controlled for disability type as previous research showed disability type as a predictor of psychological and outgroup outcomes among disabled people (Barr & Bracchitta, ).…”