Perceptions and attitudes of speech-language pathology and audiology students on people with disabilities

Abstract

Introduction: Despite different efforts to promote inclusion, adaptation and quality of life for people with disabilities (PwD), there are still barriers to be overcome, especially attitudinal ones. Such people remain subject to different degrees and types of discrimination. It is known that professional training in health, for example – Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology - requires involvement with PwD; therefore, the convenience of conducting research with students on this topic. Objective: to characterize and analyze academics’ perceptions and attitudes towards PwD. Method: an exploratory, analytical and quantitative study, carried out by an online questionnaire, designed exclusively for this one, as well as using the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale toward Persons with Disabilities (MAS) adapted, in order to know the perceptions and attitudes of academics of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at the Federal University of Santa Maria about the PwD. The collection data occurred between December 2019 and March 2020. The results were tabulated and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: 36 students participated; most of them female, coming from public schools, having little contact with PwD before, also in University graduate. A perception of not being widely prepared to deal with PwD prevailed. They revealed as attitudes: i) sometimes excluding positions; ii) feelings of tension, shyness, shame and impotence; iii) intention for interaction, but contradictory behaviours for such. Conclusion: Students’ perceptions and attitudes generally indicated little contact and insufficient training related to disabilities. It is suggested that more studies analyze unique aspects of academic training focused on PwD.