Perceptions of Disability

Presenter

Maria Kontogiannis

Campus

Framingham State University

Sponsor

Jim Sean McQuaid, Department of Sociology, Framingham State University

Schedule

Session 3, 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A97, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 5 (A81-A100) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Current and past research has shown that microaggressions from stigma and differing attitudes toward disabled individuals affect their mental health. Accommodations have also been more challenging to access for individuals with invisible disabilities, e.g., mental illness and chronic pain, than individuals with visible disabilities, e.g., having mobility aids or an amputation. Ninety-nine participants over 18 were recruited through a university survey portal, online forums, and social media. Two vignettes, one with an individual with a hand brace (visible disability) and one with anxiety (invisible disability), were presented in random order to all participants, and a condensed version of Kattari’s (2017) Ableist Microaggressions Scale (AMS) was administered to disabled participants. There was no statistical difference in the AMS between participants with either visible or invisible disabilities; however, this may have been due to not having enough visibly disabled participants. Results supported the hypothesis that both disabled and non-disabled participants held a stigma toward individuals with invisible disabilities. The results were supported through the interaction effects of two questions asked in the vignettes: whether the individual with anxiety should be given more accommodations and how necessary the accommodations were. The study aimed to observe if an individual’s disability status impacted their ability to empathize with disabled individuals or if they reinforced institutional, organizational, and individual ableism. Individuals with disabilities, especially in academia, would benefit from increased accommodations and uplifting disabled students' voices on-campus regardless of disability type.

Keywords

Accommodations, Microaggressions, Attitudes, Mental Health, Ableism

Research Area

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

SIMILAR ABSTRACTS (BY KEYWORD)