A Look at Mainstreaming in Light of Children's Attitudes toward the Handicapped

Abstract

Mainstreaming is a legislative reality, yet there is still a question as to whether non-handicapped students are prepared for it. In the present study 131 grade school students were each asked to select from the Personal Attribute Inventory for Children 15 adjectives which best fit three groups of handicapped children as well as normal children. The groups were described in a hierarchical fashion: “normal children” were rated most favorably, then “physically handicapped children,” “learning disabled children,” and “emotionally disturbed children.”