Attitudes Towards the Handicapped: an exploration of attitude distribution and redistribution

In 1975, Alf Morris, the Minister for the Disabled expressed concern regarding the problem of improving public attitudes towards the handicapped. This concern lead to a project undertaken by Eric Miller on behalf of the Tavistock Institute to develop a new approach to the problem of procuring constructive change in attitudes towards the handicapped within a given social system. . The project adopted an action research methodology involving relevant professional workers, and aimed to be able to translate theoretical findings directly into practice and training. Particularly, the aim was to contribute to understanding transitional problems in the care of the handicapped e,g, between familial and professional support. The project was based on the hypothesis that a viable approach to the problem of promoting positive change in attitudes towards the physically handicapped adult in society was to be found in achieving a redistribution of attittudes between and among those having a wide range of social interaction with the handicapped. Includes application for a research grant, project proposals, project papers, including 'Attitudes and the Handicapped: Towards a Conceptual Framework', and related correspondence.

1976-1980

1 file

In 1975, Alf Morris, the Minister for the Disabled expressed concern regarding the problem of improving public attitudes towards the handicapped. This concern lead to a project undertaken by Eric Miller on behalf of the Tavistock Institute to develop a new approach to the problem of procuring constructive change in attitudes towards the handicapped within a given social system. . The project adopted an action research methodology involving relevant professional workers, and aimed to be able to translate theoretical findings directly into practice and training. Particularly, the aim was to contribute to understanding transitional problems in the care of the handicapped e,g, between familial and professional support.

The project was based on the hypothesis that a viable approach to the problem of promoting positive change in attitudes towards the physically handicapped adult in society was to be found in achieving a redistribution of attittudes between and among those having a wide range of social interaction with the handicapped.