A Survey of Attitudes of Potential Community Training Site Staff toward Persons with Severe Handicaps

Abstract

Currently, educators are advocating for instruction of persons with severe handicaps in a variety of community settings. A survey was conducted with staff and management at 62 restaurants, consumer services, recreational facilities, stores and shops, health care facilities, and religious facilities that were designated as potential training sites for students with severe handicaps. Attitudes toward community and school integration of persons with severe handicaps were assessed. Survey respondents expressed positive attitudes toward normalized use of community facilities, and showed more positive attitudes toward community integration than toward school integration. Attitudes of community based respondents were then compared with attitudes of high school teachers and students assessed in a previous study. Significant attitude differences were found among respondent groups for 25% of the items tested.