Current Attitudes Towards Disabled People

Aiden, H. S., & McCarthy, A. (2014). Current attitudes towards disabled people. Scope. http://www.scope.org.uk/About- Us/Media/Press-releases/May-2014/New-research-Majority-of-Brits- uncomfortable-talki

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This document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. Full terms of use are available: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/red/research-policy/pure/user-guides/ebr-terms/ Current attitudes towards disabled people In this report

Executive summary 3

Introduction 5

What do we mean by attitudes? 6

Attitudes today 7

Changing attitudes 12

Conclusion 17

Notes 18

Acknowledgements We would like to thank all our research partners for the research they carried out prior to this report, especially Henning von Arnim and James Burden at Opinium, Phillip Copestake and Sanah Sheikh at OPM, and Alex Bollen and Sheonaidh Johnston at Ipsos MORI. Report authors: Hardeep Aiden and Andrea McCarthy May 2014

2 Executive summary

Twenty years ago we changed our person because they weren’t name from The Spastics Society sure how to communicate to Scope, because we recognised with them. the impact of negative language Disabled people and their and public attitudes on disabled people’s lives. families tell Scope that negative attitudes affect every area of their Over the last two decades, the lives – in the playground, at work, introduction of equality legislation in shops, on the street. and improved access to public spaces mean disabled people But how can we improve have greater opportunities, attitudes to disabled people? visibility and aspirations than Much of the discomfort people ever before. feel about disability may stem But despite this progress, from a lack of understanding. Not negative public attitudes enough people know a disabled and awkwardness about person – nearly half (43%) of the disability prevail. British public say they do not know anyone who is disabled • Two thirds (67%) of the British – and many are concerned that public feel uncomfortable talking they will do or say the wrong to disabled people. thing when talking to disabled people or about disability. • Over a third (36%) of people tend to think of disabled people as not Our research shows that both as productive as everyone else. the general public and disabled • Over four fifths (85%) of the people believe that more British public believe that everyday interactions and greater disabled people face prejudice. public education about disability will increase understanding and • A quarter (24%) of disabled acceptance of disabled people. people have experienced attitudes or behaviours where We all have a role to play and other people expected less of Scope is playing its part. This them because of their disability. year, we’re launching a national campaign to get us all thinking • One fifth (21%) of 18 – 34 years about what we can do to include old admit that they have actually disabled people more in our lives. avoided talking to a disabled 3 4 Introduction

In 2014, disabled people continue OPM and Ipsos MORI[1] and three to face challenges in many areas surveys conducted by Opinium, of their lives and many of these including one on knowledge and challenges involve people’s attitudes towards disability.[2] attitudes. But what do attitudes towards disabled people currently Research on attitudes towards look like? This report brings disability and disabled people is together a range of research that steadily increasing, but there’s still Scope has commissioned over the much more that can be done to last two years to understand current understand the issues involved. attitudes towards disability and Our focus in this report is on disabled people. exploring the kinds of attitudes people hold towards disabled In this report, we take a look at the people and how that relates to kind of attitudes and behaviours people’s life experiences and who that people who aren’t disabled they are. display towards disabled people and the attitudes that disabled This report does not attempt people themselves say they to explore the impact of specific experience. We consider the policy changes or social and reasons for these attitudes and environmental trends on how what can be done to change attitudes are shaped and evolve negative attitudes. over time. Nor does it consider the relationship between public This report is based on findings attitudes and the incidence from a series of research projects of victimisation and hate crime. commissioned by Scope. These Both are important areas of comprise a large-scale mixed research that are beyond the methods project conducted by scope of this work.

Understanding how and why attitudes towards disabled people and disability are formed is crucial.

5 What do we mean by attitudes?

Attitudes are a complex patterns in people’s attitudes. collection of beliefs, feelings, People with shared values and dispositions which characteristics or common social characterise the way we think experiences may well develop or feel about certain people or similar attitudes towards disabled situations. People’s attitudes are people or disability in general. a product of life experiences, including the relationships we There is a growing body of evidence to indicate that build with the people around us. disabled people are more likely For example, a person’s attitudes than people who aren’t disabled towards one disabled person to experience the attitudes might be shaped by their personal of others as a major barrier experience of knowing another to education, leisure, transport, disabled person. And these access to public services, social attitudes often affect the way contact and accessibility outside people behave in particular the home.[3] Understanding the situations or towards other people. prevalence of positive and negative attitudes and which Attitudes are transient and groups of people hold them change from person to person, is crucial if we want to from group to group, and even understand how to improve within groups over time. public attitudes. Nonetheless we do tend to see 6 Attitudes today

The last two decades have A more recent survey found that witnessed important legislative just a third (33%) of British people changes seeking to tackle said that they would feel discrimination towards disabled comfortable talking to disabled people.[4] Despite these changes, people, with many worried that however, negative attitudes they will seem patronising or say continue to persist. the wrong thing.[9] The research suggests that one of the reasons Negative attitudes towards behind such behaviours may disabled people are widespread be that 43% of people say that Research by Opinium found that they do not know anyone who the majority of UK adults generally is disabled. believe that disabled people face [5] Men aged 18 – 34 are the group prejudice in Britain. In line with least likely to interact with disabled previous waves of the British [6] people and most likely to hold Social Attitudes survey, well over negative attitudes towards half (57%) of respondents agreed disabled people. In fact, one fifth that there is ‘a little’ prejudice and (21%) of 18 – 34 year olds a quarter (28%) agreed there is say they have avoided talking ‘a lot’. to a disabled person because Nearly four in ten (38%) people they were not sure how to [10] surveyed think of disabled communicate with them. people as less productive than But age and gender alone do not non-disabled people, over three tell us enough about a person to quarters (76%) think of disabled be able to determine what might people as needing to be cared cause negative attitudes towards for, and 13% think of disabled disabled people. Figure 1 people as getting in the way [7] highlights two key findings from some or most of the time. the Opinium research that tell This evidence supports other us more about where negative studies that have shown that attitudes stem from. a substantial proportion of the First, people seem to be much population believe that disabled more comfortable around people people are less capable than with more ‘visible’ disabilities non-disabled people, in need of [8] (physical or sensory disabilities), care, and dependent on others. than they are around people

7 with less visible disabilities More than anything else, this (mental health conditions suggests that people are more or learning disabilities). uncomfortable with the idea of disabled people being in positions Studies have shown that negative of authority. The research did not attitudes and discrimination are uncover whether this is because worse towards people with mental they think disabled people can’t health conditions and learning fulfil these roles. Yet around a disabilities. This may be due quarter (24%) of disabled people to a generally poor level of have felt that people expected understanding about these less of them because of their disabilities and how they affect disability.[11] If this is part of the people’s social participation reason, it points to a real lack or it may be an indication of understanding around disabled of the prevalence of negative people’s capabilities. stereotypes concerning these conditions. Many disabled people are experiencing these negative Second, people are more attitudes comfortable with the idea of a relative marrying a disabled The pervasiveness of negative person or the person next door attitudes among the general being disabled than they are with public has not gone unnoticed their MP or boss being disabled. by disabled people. Well over

Figure 1. Percentage of people saying they would feel comfortable if a disabled person was their … in different scenarios

Source: Opinium research (baseline for these questions=1,861~2,025)

Learning impairment Mental health condition MP Physical impairment Sensory impairment Learning impairment Boss Mental health condition Physical impairment Comfortable Sensory impairment Learning impairment Relative’s Mental health condition Uncomfortable spouse Physical impairment Sensory impairment Learning impairment Neighbour Mental health condition Physical impairment Sensory impairment 0% 50% 100%

8 10 20 30 60 70 80 90

Prefer not to say 2%

Don’t know / unsure 5%

Yes – my partner is diabled 5%

Yes – one or more of my colleagues 7% are disabledat work Yes – I am disabled 14%

Yes – one or more of my friends 17% are disabled Yes – one or more of my family is disabled 18% No – I come into contact with disabled people but I don’t really know them 16% No – I very rarely come into contact 27% with anyone who is disabled 0% 10% 20% 30% half (58%) of disabled people they have been talked to in responding to a survey in 2013 a patronising way and 30% said that they had not noticed have been stared at due to their any change in people’s attitudes disability. Many disabled people towards them as a disabled have also been in contact with person following the 2012 members of the public who Paralympic Games – a major refused to make reasonable moment for disability in the UK.[12] adjustments. Brian’s story One in five (22%) were of the illustrates a lot of these points: opinion that people’s attitudes have worsened, while less than “If I’m tired, my speech can be one in ten (9%) believed people’s slurred and I can duck and attitudes towards disabled people weave, if I go for a walk, all over have improved. the place. People look at you and think, ‘This person’s drunk When dealing with members of and it’s only half past seven in the public, half (49%) of disabled the morning’. You see people people said that they had talked crossing the road rather than to someone who didn’t believe saying, ‘Do you need help?’” they were disabled (see figure 2). Brian, Frome Over a third (35%) indicated that

Figure 2. Experiences that disabled people faced in the previous 12 months, thought to be a result of their disability, when dealing with members of the public Opinium research (baseline for this question=1,014)

Physically aacked you 4%

Acted in an aggressive or hostile way 16%

Called you names 17%

Been talking to you and incorrectly assumed you do not work because of your disability 21% Refused to make adjustments or do things diﬀerently 28%

Stared at you 30%

Talked to you in a patronising way 35%

Been talking to you and didn’t believe you 49% were disabled 0% 20% 40% 60%

9 The OPM / Ipsos MORI research said that they had experienced found that many disabled people a physical attack in the previous experienced other people’s year. About one in six had attitudes or behaviours as experienced aggressive or hostile a problem in challenging areas behaviour and a similar number of their lives. For example, a fifth had experience name-calling. (21%) of people who experienced There’s a general lack of problems in relation to money understanding about disability and benefits said that other people’s attitudes or behaviours A lack of understanding of one’s were involved. This rose to 38% individual needs is the attitude of disabled people who faced or behaviour most commonly challenges around work and experienced by disabled people employment. – and the one that those who have experienced several In some cases disabled people negative attitudes or behaviours have experienced more violent most want to change (see behaviour as a result of negative figure 3). Two in five (41%) attitudes. About 4% of disabled disabled people said that they people responding to the survey

Figure 3. Percentage of disabled people who have (a) experienced particular behaviours or attitudes from other people because of their health condition or disability and (b) said which behaviours or attitudes they would most like to change

Source: OPM / Ipsos MORI research (baseline for a=2,045; baseline for b=894)

Ignoring me or pretending not to 15% see me 16% 10% Being awkward around me 15%

Thinking I can’t make my 15% own decisions 16%

20% Treating me like I’m a nuisance 23%

Expecting less of me because 19% of my health condition or disability 24%

40% Not understanding my needs 41%

0% 10% 20%30% 40% 50%

10 had experienced a lack of in relation to ‘not understanding understanding around their my needs’ (52% versus 27% individual needs from other respectively). ‘Working-class’ people. A similar percentage disabled people are also more expressed a wish to see likely than average to have this change. experienced most of the attitudes or behaviours asked about.[14] Certain groups of disabled Nearly one in seven (15%) people are more likely to disabled people in the OPM / have experienced a lack of Ipsos MORI research said that understanding of their needs – they had felt other people being people with conditions relating awkward around them because to mental health problems (67%) of their disability. However, one intellectual, social or behavioural in four (26%) non-disabled or learning disabilities (67%), people in the Opinium research memory (62%), dexterity (54%) said that they tend to think and stamina/breathing difficulties of disabled people with (51%). About two in five people awkwardness and discomfort. in these groups have felt treated like a nuisance.[13] This difference could be due to the phrasing of the questions, Disabled people of working but it might also indicate that age are more likely to have a large proportion of the experienced most of these population just aren’t engaging behaviours or attitudes than over with disabled people. 65s, with the biggest gap seen

11 Changing attitudes

Disabled people involved in the public’s attitudes, which OPM / Ipsos MORI research had underlines just how prevalent wide ranging ideas about whose negative attitudes are. attitudes need to change and the positive changes that would Aside from the general public, make important differences nearly a quarter (23%) of to various areas of their lives. disabled people identified local authority / government staff Among these proposals, four recommendations were as a group whose attitudes they particularly prominent. would like to see change for the better, followed closely by health Whose attitudes need and social care staff (23%). This to change? suggests that staff in the public The OPM / Ipsos MORI research sector still have some way to asked disabled people directly go if they are to achieve the whose attitudes they would most outcomes specified by the public like to see a change in (see sector equality duty. figure 4). Three in ten (29%) Fifteen per cent of disabled said that they would most like people surveyed said that they to see a change in the general

12 Figure 4. Whose attitudes would you most like to see change?

Source: OPM / Ipsos MORI research (baseline for this question=2,045)

Teachers and education staff 2% Other 3% Colleagues 5% Friends 8% Retail, leisure services staff 8% Family 10% Public transport staff 10% Other professionals, service providers 13% Employers 15% Health, social care, support staff 23% Local authority, government staff 23% General public 29%

0% 10% 20% 30% would most like to see a change of their lives, around a quarter in employers’ attitudes. However, (24%) said they would like to among disabled people who said see a change for the better in they have faced problems around their own anxiety / lack of employment where other confidence. As Emily points out, people’s attitudes or behaviours the lack of disabled role models were involved, the vast majority doesn’t help: identified employers’ attitudes (76%), followed by those of “If [the young people I work colleagues (51%) and the general with aren’t] dealing with public (26%). cultural shame or shame from their home life, they’re dealing It is also worth remembering that with their own internalised people who perceive themselves shame. And there’s not that as stigmatised may also visibility of disabled people for internalise the negative attitudes them – so who are the disabled that they encounter in a disabling people that they look up to – society. This in turn can have an to see hope from?” impact on people’s quality of life Emily, London and wellbeing. Of the disabled people who reported they had faced challenges in several areas

13 Educating people about “Educating people is the last disability thing really, the big, real thing. It’s a hard one to do: to make A message that came through people aware and educate strongly in the OPM / Ipsos them that actually a blind MORI research was that public person, a disabled person, education could help tackle the isn’t someone to shun. They’re discrimination and stigma actually just as worthwhile and associated with disability. employable and useful as the Likewise, over a quarter (28%) next person.” of people say that getting advice Gavin, Nottingham from disabled people would make them feel more confident Making opportunities for talking or interacting with everyday interactions disabled people.[15] Investment in public awareness campaigns Public education is important but could help tackle the everyday there is a wealth of research to negative attitudes that disabled suggest that attitudes towards people encounter. disability and disabled people

Figure 5. Do you personally know anyone who is disabled?

Source: Opinium research[16] (baseline for this question=2,001)

Prefer not to say 2%

Don’t know / unsure 5%

Yes – my partner is disabled 5%

Yes – one or more of my colleagues 7% are disabled at work Yes – I am disabled 14%

14 are more likely to improve if Attitudes towards disability there are more opportunities and disabled people are much for disabled people and people more likely to improve through who aren’t disabled to have more frequent interactions positive interactions in everyday between disabled people and life. However, it’s surprising how non-disabled people in everyday few such opportunities there are. situations. Paradoxically, these interactions are unlikely to Unsurprisingly, a third (33%) happen when many people of people say that getting to hold negative attitudes. know someone disabled would make them feel more confident Positive attitudes can be around disabled people.[17] shaped from an early age However, research by Opinium Disabled people suggested found that over a quarter (27%) that positive attitudes could be of people say they rarely come shaped through more interaction into contact with disabled people between children with and (see figure 5). Altogether, without impairments. In fact two in five (43%) people don’t a recent survey carried out by personally know anyone who Mumsnet and Scope found that is disabled. four in ten (38%) parents said Fewer than one in five (17%) that their disabled children ‘rarely’ people said that they have or ‘never’ have the opportunity friends who are disabled. Just to socialise and mix with children [19] 7% of people said that one or who aren’t disabled. more of their work colleagues “Parents – even in this day and are disabled, which underlines age – seem to think my son is a the high unemployment rate leper with a contagious disease, among disabled people and the yet he has CP [cerebral palsy]. disproportionate employment If their kids ask questions they of disabled people in particular rush them away. People are [18] sectors of the labour market. very ashamed of disabilities – not the parents who have the disabled child, as I am more than happy to explain to their children what’s up with my son. Over a quarter of But parents seem to not want people say they rarely their children to understand come into contact with some children have poorly legs or the like.” disabled people. Helen, Surbiton

15 As Helen’s story shows, parents portrayals of disabled people and teachers also have a vital on TV and in mainstream media. role to play in shaping and modelling attitudes. This While participants’ views about message was also backed up the best way to portray disabled by the results of the Mumsnet / people and disability issues Scope survey. The majority on television varied, there was of parents surveyed felt that consensus that seeing more more positive attitudes and disabled people as everyday understanding of disability characters (rather than obviously among staff (72%) and other ‘good’ or obviously ‘bad’ parents (65%) would lead to characters) would help to raise more inclusive services and awareness of disability among groups in their local area. the wider public and reduce This result highlights the stigma and discriminatory important role that parents attitudes: and professionals play in the “We need a more realistic view socialisation of children and of disabled people – we’re not young people. all heroes or villains, even Seeing disabled people though I love stories about in the media disabled people becoming heroes, overcoming adversity. A strong message from expert But we all have the right not interviewees and from focus to climb a mountain!” group and interview participants Female participant from OPM / in the OPM / Ipsos MORI Ipsos MORI research research was the positive impact of greater visibility of disabled people on reducing the stigma Experts interviewed during the and discrimination towards research were particularly keen disability. Participants were to see more disabled people very keen to see more positive as role models and in the leadership positions which are responsible for championing change. They felt that this would be powerful in changing wider society’s attitudes towards Parents and teachers disabled people. have a vital role to play in shaping and modelling attitudes.

16 Conclusion

Public attitudes have an impact Generally speaking, men are on the material and non-material more likely to hold negative aspects of everyone’s living attitudes than women, especially standards, and disabled people among younger age groups. in particular. At Scope, we Moreover, attitudes towards believe that we won’t see people with less ‘visible’ structural changes that improve disabilities tend to be much disabled people’s living standards more negative. without tackling attitudinal change at the same time. There is a lot that can be done to change this, including better The findings in this report show education; ensuring there are that large sections of the more opportunities for disabled population hold negative attitudes people and people who aren’t towards disabled people and disabled to have positive these attitudes are underpinned interactions; and encouraging by a general lack of more positive portrayals of understanding about disability disability and disabled people and disabled people’s needs. in the media.

17 Notes

[1] OPM and Ipsos MORI (2014) [4] These include the Disability Removing barriers, raising living Discrimination Act 1995, standards, Report for Scope. The superseded by the Equality research consisted of in-depth Act 2010. qualitative research, conducted by OPM, including 10 focus [5] See note 2 above. groups and 30 one-to-one [6] Office for Disability Issues interviews with disabled people (2011) Public perceptions of with a range of impairments disabled people: evidence from and/or health conditions; and the British Social Attitudes quantitative survey research, Survey 2009. http://odi.dwp.gov. conducted by Ipsos MORI, uk/docs/res/ppdp/ppdp.pdf including an online survey of 1,674 disabled people and a [7] Scope analysis of Opinium face-to-face survey with 371 research (see note 2 above). disabled people, which combined [8] Department for Work and to give a representative sample Pensions (2002) Disabled of disabled people across for life?: Attitudes towards, the UK. In addition, OPM and experiences of, disability conducted ten interviews in Britain. with disability experts, change experts and members of the NatCen (2007) Attitudes towards coproduction group. and perceptions of disabled people – findings from a module [2] Opinium (2013) research: included in the 2005 British 2,081 online interviews with Social Attitudes survey. nationally representative sample http://disability-studies.leeds.ac. of UK adults aged 18+, uk/files/library/robinson- conducted between NatCenDisabilityModuleAug2007. 11 – 19 September 2013. pdf [3] Office for National Statistics [9] Opinium (2014) research: (2014) Life opportunities survey, 2,001 online interviews with understanding disability wave nationally representative two, part II. http://www.ons.gov. sample of UK adults aged uk/ons/rel/los/life-opportunities- 18+, conducted between survey/wave-two--part-ii/ 11 – 14 April 2014. index.html

18 [10] See note 9 above. the NRS social grade system. Conversely, people who are [11] Opinium (2013) research: categorised as A. B or C are online survey of 1,014 UK adults loosely defined as ‘middle class’. aged 18+ whose day-to-day activities are affected by long [15] See note 9 above. standing physical or mental impairments, conditions, [16] See note 11 above. illnesses or disabilities, [17] See note 9 above. conducted between 7 – 17 June 2013. http://news.opinium.co.uk/ [18] Trotter R (2014) A million survey-results/paralympic- futures: halving the disability legacy employment gap. http://www. scope.org.uk/Scope/media/ [12] See note 11 above Documents/Publication%20 [13] About two fifths (42%) of Directory/A-million-futures- people with mental health halving-the-disability- conditions and 41% of people employment-gap.pdf with intellectual, social or [19] Scope analysis of Mumsnet behavioural or learning / Scope survey of 550 parents disabilities have felt treated like of disabled children in England a nuisance. and Wales, conducted between [14] ‘Working class’ is used as 24 January – 7 February 2014. shorthand for people who were categorised as C2, D or E under

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