Changing Attitudes toward Blindness: A Role-Playing Demonstration for Service Clubs

Abstract

A short program to improve attitudes toward blind persons and to correct misinformation was designed and presented to 13 Lions and Rotary Clubs. A role-playing demonstration (fully described) with blindfolded members of the audience was followed by a discussion period. Through the administration of a questionnaire before the program and one to two months after, it was found that significant improvements occurred in those attitudes in which blind people are viewed as helpless, inferior, and dependent. Improvements in the participants’ knowledge about blind people did not occur to the extent expected.