A preliminary study of modifying school children's attitudes towards students with specific learning disabilities

Abstract

Classes for children with specific learning disabilities in Sweden have for many years been located in ordinary schools. Nevertheless many studies indicate that there are relatively few· contacts between children in regular classes and children in classes for the learning disabled. This study aimed to determine whether children's attitudes toward learning disabled schoolmates could be favourably modified by a program designed to provide specific information about retardation as well as to encourage cooperation between the two groups. A series of structured questions was developed to determine present knowledge and attitudes toward the learning disabled. These questions were presented both at the beginning and end of a school semester (6 months). Interventions attempting to modify children's attitudes about the learning disabled included information sessions, role playing and a joint field trip. The study suggests that children's . attitudes can be changed in the direction of greater acceptance of the learning disabled.