Contact with people with disabilities in relation to the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents
Contact with people with disabilities in relation to the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents

Summary/Abstract: Contact with people with disabilities is one of the most commonly examined variables that can influence changes in attitudes toward persons with disabilities, while positive social interactions may lead to a reduction in prejudice and discrimination. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of contact with people with disabilities in relation to the gender and age of the respondents in inclusive and non-inclusive classrooms. The sample included 331 participants from third to fifth grade of regular primary schools. The total sample consisted of 161 (48.6%) boys and 170 (51.4%) girls. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Contact with Disabled Persons Scale (CDP). The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of contact with people with disabilities in relation to the gender of the respondents (p = 0.178; p = 0.280). On the other hand, a statistically significant difference was found in the frequency of contact in relation to the grade level of the students in both groups of respondents (p = 0.000; p = 0.007). Third-grade students reported a lower frequency of contact compared to fifth-grade students. Contact with people with disabilities is an important social dimension of inclusive education and therefore requires attention in future research.

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