Development and Validation of the Social Worker’s Attitudes Toward Disability Scale

Abstract

Disability scholars have recently highlighted social work professional organizations’ lagging pace in adopting disability advocacy within diversity agendas and have questioned the adequacy of disability content within accredited social work curricula. Amid growing concerns, measures to assess attitudes of social workers toward disability and disability-related issues are needed. Using a sample of 237 social work students, the current study details the development and validation of the Social Worker’s Attitudes Toward Disability Scale, a multidimensional measure of social workers’ attitudes toward disability as related to professional roles. Initial findings indicate that the final 27-item instrument is a reliable and valid tool that may be useful in facilitating analyses of whether and how social workers are prepared to serve these vulnerable populations.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Leah P. Cheatham

Leah P. Cheatham is a doctoral candidate, Neil Abell is director of International Programs and professor, and Hyejin Kim is a doctoral candidate at Florida State University.

Neil Abell

Leah P. Cheatham is a doctoral candidate, Neil Abell is director of International Programs and professor, and Hyejin Kim is a doctoral candidate at Florida State University.

Hyejin Kim

Leah P. Cheatham is a doctoral candidate, Neil Abell is director of International Programs and professor, and Hyejin Kim is a doctoral candidate at Florida State University.