Policies to change attitudes to people with disabilities
Negative attitudes are a major barrier to the equality of people with disabilities. Governments and other organizations have implemented numerous programmes to change attitudes towards people with disabilities. We analyse published evidence about the effectiveness of such programmes using a framewor...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Stockholm University Press
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.sjdr.se/articles/77 |
| _version_ | 1797763876677222400 |
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| author | Karen R. Fisher Christiane Purcal |
| author_facet | Karen R. Fisher Christiane Purcal |
| author_sort | Karen R. Fisher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Negative attitudes are a major barrier to the equality of people with disabilities. Governments and other organizations have implemented numerous programmes to change attitudes towards people with disabilities. We analyse published evidence about the effectiveness of such programmes using a framework of the interrelationship among three levels of policy intervention to change attitudes: personal level – directed at changing the attitudes of individuals; organizational level – concerning attitudinal barriers in domains such as employment, education and health; and government level – legally mandating behaviour change. The analysis finds that the following policy types can be effective if used together: policies that involve direct contact with people with disability; information and awareness campaigns; education and training about disability; and antidiscrimination enforcement. Policy characteristics that contribute to effectiveness include a positive programme experience for participants; multifaceted and prolonged interventions; and adequate programme resources. Policy effectiveness to change attitudes relies on corresponding reinforcement at all three policy levels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:48:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e3bf042eca084406a3a799b9fd768ca0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1501-7419 1745-3011 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:48:36Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | Stockholm University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-e3bf042eca084406a3a799b9fd768ca02023-08-02T03:25:11ZengStockholm University PressScandinavian Journal of Disability Research1501-74191745-30112017-09-0119216117410.1080/15017419.2016.12223039Policies to change attitudes to people with disabilitiesKaren R. Fisher0Christiane Purcal1Disability Research Program, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaSocial Policy Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaNegative attitudes are a major barrier to the equality of people with disabilities. Governments and other organizations have implemented numerous programmes to change attitudes towards people with disabilities. We analyse published evidence about the effectiveness of such programmes using a framework of the interrelationship among three levels of policy intervention to change attitudes: personal level – directed at changing the attitudes of individuals; organizational level – concerning attitudinal barriers in domains such as employment, education and health; and government level – legally mandating behaviour change. The analysis finds that the following policy types can be effective if used together: policies that involve direct contact with people with disability; information and awareness campaigns; education and training about disability; and antidiscrimination enforcement. Policy characteristics that contribute to effectiveness include a positive programme experience for participants; multifaceted and prolonged interventions; and adequate programme resources. Policy effectiveness to change attitudes relies on corresponding reinforcement at all three policy levels.https://www.sjdr.se/articles/77Disability policyattitudesdiscriminationpolicy changedisability rights |
| spellingShingle | Karen R. Fisher Christiane Purcal Policies to change attitudes to people with disabilities Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research Disability policy attitudes discrimination policy change disability rights |
| title | Policies to change attitudes to people with disabilities |
| title_full | Policies to change attitudes to people with disabilities |
| title_fullStr | Policies to change attitudes to people with disabilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Policies to change attitudes to people with disabilities |
| title_short | Policies to change attitudes to people with disabilities |
| title_sort | policies to change attitudes to people with disabilities |
| topic | Disability policy attitudes discrimination policy change disability rights |
| url | https://www.sjdr.se/articles/77 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karenrfisher policiestochangeattitudestopeoplewithdisabilities AT christianepurcal policiestochangeattitudestopeoplewithdisabilities |