The attitudes of community based rehabilitation workers towards people with disabilities in south India

This study explored the attitudes of south Indian Community Based Rehabilit ation (CBR) workers towards people with disabilities. The research presents a demographic profile of the CBR worker, provides a measure of their attit udes towards people with disabilities, and investigates the factors that in fluence the formation of these attitudes, in particular the role of CBR edu cation programmes. A questionnaire and an attitude measurement instrument, specifically developed for the Indian context, provided descriptive data. I nterviews provided background information on south Indian culture and CBR e ducational programmes. Analysis of the data revealed that CBR workers in so uth India tend to be young, female and lacking in work experience. They hav e positive attitudes towards people with disabilities, which are influenced by their amount of education. CBR educational programmes appeared to have little effect on workers' attitudes, perhaps reflecting a lack of education al strategies directed specifically at attitude development.