Attitudes toward people with disabilities between Chinese rehabilitation and business students: An implication for practice

Abstract

Objective: To study the effects of curriculum on changing the attitudes of students toward people with disabilities. Participants: Seventy-three rehabilitation students and 107 business students in either their 1st or 3rd year at a Chinese university. Main Outcome Measures: The Attitude Towards Disabled Persons (ATDP) Scale and a questionnaire on course work and personal experience. Results: At the end of the 1st year, rehabilitation students had significantly more positive attitudes, whereas the business students were more negative. In the 3rd year, these attitudes were also found among both groups of students. Conclusion: Rehabilitation psychologists should expand their practice to foster positive attitudinal changes in students in nonrehabilitation programs, which helps create a positive environment for people with disabilities.