STUDENTS ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore and interpret student perceptions and attitudes towards
disability, factors underpinning the attitudes, and studentviews on discrimination and legal rights of disabled
people. Students describe disability as being physically and mentally different that hinders them to do
something. Findings from the review of literature indicated that developing an understanding of theattitudes
that predominate in a community, in turns would influence the action of its member. Therefore the way the
students view the disabled will influence the student’s action towards the disabled. An explorative,
interpretative design wasemployed. The data were collected by means of in-depth interviews with a sample
of students studying in one of university in Aceh, and were analyzed using content analysis
approach .Thefindings revealed five main themes emerged from the interview; definition of disability,
differenttypes of disability, view towards disability, reason behind people behavior and discrimination.This
study indicates that the attitude and perception towards people with disability appears to be affected by they
previous encounter with people with disability and other factor thatunderpinning they viewed included
environment, situation, awareness and experience.
Keyword : student, attitudes, perceptions, disability