Mainstream leisure providers' attitudes toward people with disabilities: A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (Honours) at Lincoln University

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to examine mainstream recreation providers' attitudes toward people with disabilities and the factors related to those attitudes. Data were obtained from Christchurch City Council (n=58) and Christchurch Y.M.C.A (n=25) recreation facility employees. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed which included the Attitudes toward Disabled Persons Scale (ATDP). The data were analysed using SPSS . The results of the study indicate that the employees of Christchurch City Council's Leisure and Community Services Unit held significantly higher attitudes than those at Pioneer Stadium. No difference in employees attitudes existed between the Christchurch City Council and the Y.M.C.A. People who develop programme areas had significantly higher attitudes than those who do not. Increased levels of disability education was moderately linked to more positive attitudes toward people with disabilities. Findings of the study suggest that the respondents generally held positive attitudes toward people with disabilities, and that increased participation in various forms of disability education may assist in the formation of positive attitudes toward people with disabilities.