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Attitudes of Children Without Disabilities
Toward Peers with Disabilities: The Effect
of Contact in a Summer Camp Program
Finch, J.G.
Doctoral Dissertation, Temple University,
Philadelphia, PA, 1998.
Purpose:
Examine the changes in attitudes of children
without disabilities toward their peers
with disabilities in an inclusive summer
day camp setting.
Sample:
Subjects: 611 campers (boys and girls),
ages 8-12.
Camp Affiliation: Jewish Community Center
Day Camps using Open Hearts, Open Doors
Programs.
Method/Instruments:
Method: Eight-week summer day camp program,
six hours/day, five days/week. Program included
specific inclusion interventions such as:
circle of friends (peer support group for
campers with disabilities), information
meetings for campers without disabilities,
Kids on the Block performance, inclusive
fine arts performances, non-disabled-disabled
buddy system for transportation around camp
and in daily activities, and modifications
to all sports activities to accommodate
campers with disabilities. Disabilities
included: autism, mental retardation, multiple
disabilities, severe cerebral palsy, emotional
disturbances, ADD, auditory impairment,
neurological impairment, and perceptual
impairment.
Instrument: Three-point attitude survey,
a revision of The Acceptance Scale (22 positive
and negative statements about children with
disabilities).
Design: 411 campers in the inclusive camp
setting, 200 in the control group at a comparable,
non-inclusive day camp. Comparable number
of males and females in treatment group,
twice as many females as males in the control
group. Pre-test/post-test design with control
group (Group x Gender x Grade x Time of
Test).
Data Analysis: ANOVA
Results:
- Significant differences between groups
on pre-test, so no other between group
comparisons were performed.
- Significant overall positive attitude
change in children without disabilities
toward children with disabilities in the
inclusive group. No change for non-inclusive
group.
- No significant attitude change between
groups by gender.
- Significant grade level differences
between groups: significant positive change
in attitude for grades 5 & 6 in inclusive
camp setting and negative changes in attitude
in grades 5 & 6 for campers in non-inclusive
setting.
- No significant overall attitude changes
related to gender, but there were significant
differences based on gender on individual
questions.
- There were higher mean scores for females
than for males in both groups.
- The researcher attributed success to
the intensive staff training and commitment
to the goals of the program, enabling
staff to reach a comfort level conducive
to success.
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