Changes in Children's Attitudes Toward the Physically Handicapped

Abstract

An assessment was made of changes in attitude of 152 elementary school children toward orthopedically handicapped children as a result of an integrated school experience. After integration nonhandicapped children had developed a more positive attitude toward the orthopedically handicapped. Before integration boys and girls differed in attitudes, but the difference disappeared as a result of integration. Integration increased differences in attitudes between older and younger children toward orthopedically handicapped children, with older children developing a more realistic attitude than younger children.