FACTORS INFLUENCING ENTRY-LEVEL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS ATTITUDES TOWARD PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Negative attitudes exhibited by rehabilitation professionals could hav e adverse consequences for persons with disabilities in their achievem ent of desired outcomes. Because occupational therapists are in a posi tion to exert considerable influence in the therapeutic relationship, this study explored entry-level occupational therapy practitioners' eq ual status contact with and attitudes toward persons with disabilities . Method. Questionnaires were sent to 402 entry-level occupational the rapists. These questionnaires consisted of: a demographic scale, the D isability Social Distance Scale, the Contact With Disabled Persons Sca le, and a Similarity Scale (constructed for this study to evaluate the concept of equal status). Data analysis explored the relationship bet ween 172 respondents' equal status perception and contact with persons with disabilities and their attitudes toward persons with disabilitie s. Results. Respondents exhibited generally positive attitudes toward persons with disabilities. Perceived equality, personal and profession al contact, and the majority of demographic factors were not significa ntly correlated with their attitudes toward persons with disabilities. Respondents who specified working with persons without disabilities i n the wellness capacity exhibited more positive attitudes than those w orking with persons with biomechanical and neurological disabilities. In addition, respondents who had a greater frequency of professional c ontact with persons with disabilities also appeared to experience more personal contact with persons with disabilities. Conclusion. Entry-le vel occupational therapists' attitudes toward persons with disabilitie s may not only be influenced by parameters of the contact variable but also by the profession's holistic philosophy, the occupational therap y educational curricula, and the personal characteristics of those who choose to pursue a career in occupational therapy.