Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Responses were analyzed for a social distance scale and questionnaire regarding the attitudes of 106 Registered Occupational Therapists (OTRs) and 98 Certified Occupational Therapy assistants toward Registered OTRs who were hypothetically diagnosed as disabled according to 20 physical or mental disability categories. Results indicated that occupational therapy personnel generally had favorable attitudes toward peers with disabilities in a work situation, with the exception of peers who were specifically diagnosed with drug dependency problems and psychiatric disorders. Neither the length of time a professional had been practicing occupational therapy, nor the quantity or quality of contact with people who have disabilities affected the attitudes expressed. Implications of the results and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords

beliefs survey occupational therapists with disabilities

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Altman

B. M.

(1981). Studies of attitudes toward the handicapped: The need for a new direction. Social Problems, 28, 321–337.

American Occupational Therapy Association. (1989). Geographical distribution of occupational therapy personnel—single document.

American Occupational Therapy Association. (1990). Member data survey. OT Week, 5, 1–8.

Amir

(1969). Contact hypothesis in ethnic relations. Psychological Bulletin, 71, 319–342.

Benham

P. K.

(1988). Attitudes of occupational therapy personnel toward persons with disabilities. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 42, 305–311.

Block

, & Yuker

(1979). Attitudes toward disability are the key! Rehabilitation Digest, 10, 2–3,266.

Bogardus

E. S.

(1925). Measuring social distances. Journal of Applied Sociology, 9, 216–226.

Bogardus

E. S.

(1933). A social distance scale. Sociology and Social Research, 17, 265–271.

Bohlander

D. S.

(1985). Attitude toward disabled persons: A comparison of school teachers and physical therapists. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 5, 43–50.

10.

Grand

S. A.

Bernier

J. E.

, & Strohmer

D. C.

(1982). Attitudes toward disabled persons as a function of social context and specific disability. Rehabilitation Psychology, 27, 165–174.

11.

Hahn

(1988). The politics of physical differences: Disability and discrimination. Journal of Social Issues, 44, 39–47.

12.

Harasymiw

S. J.

, & Home

M. D.

(1975). Integration of handicapped children: Its effect on teacher attitudes. Education, 96, 153–158.

13.

Mandell

, & Strain

(1978). An analysis of factors related to the attitudes of regular classroom teachers toward mainstreaming mildly handicapped children. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 3, 154–162.

14.

Mueller

D. J.

(1986). Measuring Social Attitudes: A Handbook for Researchers and Practitioners. New York: Teachers College Press.

15.

Rousch

S. E.

(1986). Health professional as contributors to attitudes toward persons with disabilities: A special communication. Physical Therapy, 66, 1551–1554.

16.

Siller

Chipman

Ferguson

, & Vann

D. H.

(1967). Studies in reactions to disability: XI: Attitudes of the nondisabled toward the physically disabled. New York: New York University.

17.

Short-DeGraff

Diamond

, & Rolker-Dolinsky

(1989). Comparison of physical therapy majors and other college students' attitudes toward persons with disabilities. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 7, 27–36.

18.

Strohmer

D. C.

Grand

S. A.

, & Purcell

M. J.

(1984). Attitudes toward persons with a disability: An examination of demographic factors, social context, and specific disability, Rehabilitation Psychology, 29, 131–145.

19.

Threlkeld

R. M.

, & DeJong

(1983). Hiring the disabled: An attempt to influence behavioral intentions through a media presentation. Rehabilitation Psychology, 28, 105–114.

20.

Tringo

J. L.

(1970). The hierarchy of preference toward disability groups. The Journal of Special Education, 4, 295–305.

21.

Wicas

, & Carluccio

L. W.

(1971). Attitudes of counselors toward three handicapped client groups. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 15(1) 25–33.

22.

Wolraich

M. L.

(1982). Communication between physicians and parents of handicapped children. Exceptional Children, 48, 324–329.

23.

Yuker

H. E.

(Ed.). (1988). Attitudes toward people with disabilities. NY: Springer.

24.

Yuker

H. E.

Block

J. R.

, & Campbell

W. J.

(1960). A scale to measure attitudes toward disabled persons. Albertson, NY: Human Resources Center.

Attitudes of Occupational Therapy Personnel toward Therapists with Disabilities

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References