What parents say about inclusion and disabilities: implications for young children's attitude development toward peers with disabilities

The purpose of the current study is to examine what parents think about individuals with disabilities and inclusion, to what extent parents' attitudes are related to their children's attitudes toward peers with disabilities and other family demographics, and how parents address disabilities to their children. Using surveys and interviews, data were collected from 50 children in kindergarten or 1st grade classes and their parents in the United States. Results showed that parents' attitudes toward individuals with disabilities were significantly correlated with their previous experiences with people with disabilities. However, none of the Family demographics were related to their attitudes and no relations were found between children's attitudes and parents' attitudes toward individuals with disabilities. Results from parent interviews also revealed that a small number of parents had talked about disabilities or challenging behaviours with their children. Based on the results, suggestions for research and implications for practices are discussed.