Faculty attitudes toward students with disabilities

Over the years, researchers in the field of disability studies have attempted to explore various experiences of individuals with disabilities. The purpose of this research is often focused on understanding differences in attitudes toward individuals with disabilities and their impact on the individual with the disability. The importance of these types of studies of attitudes toward individuals with disabilities is the possibility that remedies for negative bias can be implemented when necessary.; The purpose of this exploratory and confirmatory study was to determine faculty attitudes toward students with disabilities within a postsecondary setting using the Interaction with Disabled Persons Scale (IDP). Survey results of faculty attitudes toward students with disabilities within a postsecondary setting were compared using the following independent variables as reported by the faculty through a demographic questionnaire: (a) faculty rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, full professor); (b) college or academic area; (c) gender; (d) age of faculty; (e) years of teaching experience in higher education; and (f) prior experience accommodating disabled persons in the classroom. A univariate analysis of variance was used to determine any relevance between those faculty demographics as detailed above and the attitude expressed on the IDP. Furthermore, a factor analysis was conducted on the various survey questions of the IDP to investigate the measurement properties of the scale being used. Results provide necessary data in providing policy statements for human resources in the institution and may involve legal ramifications for the institution involved. These results may be carefully extrapolated to other institutions that share similar characteristics with the institution studied and may serve as a role for other institutions providing accommodations for students with disabilities in higher education.