AIDS: Special Educators' Knowledge and Attitudes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine special edueators' attitudes toward and knowledge of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and to determine what combination of variables best predicted special educators' willingness to educate children who are HIV positive or who have AIDS. Factor analysis of the attitude scores of the AIDS survey revealed five factors (integration/segregation, knowledge, willingness to educate, testing, privacy) that accounted for 67% of the variance. Integrationlsegregation and knowledge scores were entered in a multiple regression model where willingness to educate was used as a criterion variable. Only one variable, integrationlsegregation, was significantly predictive of willingness to educate. Descriptive data indicated special educators were willing to educate cbildren with HIV/NDS and were knowledgeable about HIV/NDS. Implications for teacher education are included.