Disabling Written Descriptors and Attitudes Among Persons With Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

We used variations in disability descriptors to assess stability of attitudes toward persons with disabilities among participants with spinal cord injuries. Participants completed one of three versions of the Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons (ATDP) Scale; these versions used either nondisabling, disabling, or the original wording of the ATDP. We found a significant difference between the three groups' attitudes toward individuals with disabilities, based on the wording of the ATDP, F(2, 33) = 12.69, p < .0001. Post hoc tests revealed that the original wording (“disabled persons”) yielded the least favored attitude toward individuals with disabilities. Participants viewed the nondisabling version (“persons with disabilities”) most favorably, although the difference between scores related to this wording and the disabling version (“the disabled”) was not significant. Participants also rated the “author” of the questionnaires on the liking and positive and negative adjectives endorsement variables, with no significant differences noted. The current results differed from those of previous studies, which failed to demonstrate a significant difference based on disabling descriptors, in persons with and without mild disabilities. Results of this study suggested that individuals with severe and likely permanent disabilities may be more sensitive to the wording used to refer to them than are persons with mild disabilities, and these terms may affect their perception of individuals with disabilities in general. These findings highlight the need to use nondisabling language.