Examining College Student Attitudes Toward Individuals with Disabilities: Implications for College Adaptive Sports Development

Abstract

Attitudes toward students with disabilities play a crucial role in creating an inclusive and supportive campus environment. This study investigated college students’ attitudes toward peers with disabilities and explored the factors that influence these attitudes. Data from 457 students were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that students’ attitudes toward peers with disabilities were moderately positive overall, with room for improvement. Specifically, the findings highlighted several key factors that positively influenced attitudes including presence of a family member or friend with a disability and students’ involvement in disability-related programming. However, the study also identified areas that require attention including limited exposure to disability-related coursework among students, and low involvement in disability-related programming on campus. Implications highlight the significance of creating a supportive and inclusive campus climate for students with disabilities. Recommendations include various academic focused strategies, but focus on one social opportunity, namely intercollegiate adaptive sports.