1970’s study into children’s attitudes about the disabled

Primary School Children's Perceptions

click image above to read full document.

This is a 32 page study that was undertaken when there were thoughts of deinstitutionalising the children at Willow Court. What was the likely outcome and how would children blend into a integrated educational system?

The late Dr Merrill Stanley Jackson (March 2015) and Brian Knowles asked 63 questions that attempted to seek the perceptions of children from grades 3-6 with some interesting results.

It would be interesting to see if there was a follow up study after integration/inclusion, if not, this may well be a basis for a study to see what perceptions are held today.

The large book (from Willow Court) of collected studies explores the idea of integration in the 70’s and what would be the possible ramifications and obvious questions and concerns the non-institutionalised community would have towards such a program.

By the 1980’s the children started the deinstitutionalisation process – the rest is history.

 

Continue Reading