Effects of a Disability Awareness Clinic on Boy Scouts’ Attitudes toward Disability

Abstract

This study examines the effects of a Disability Awareness Merit Badge Clinic on boy scouts’ attitudes toward peers with disabilities. The clinic was created and facilitated by two faculty members and 18 undergraduate students at a Midwest public regional university. Boy scouts (ages 10-17) attended the clinic and participated in various educational activities across campus throughout the day which were designed to promote disability awareness. A pretest/post-test method was used to assess whether the clinic had a measurable effect on the scouts’ (N = 58) disability-related attitudes. It was hypothesized that participation in the merit badge clinic would increase the boy scouts’ positive attitudes toward peers with disabilities. The results show a modest but significant increase in positive attitudes among participants, with the highest increase among younger scouts. Findings support the need for disability awareness interventions for individuals at early stages of social development. Future research should address whether incorporation of experiential learning activities to the clinic curriculum would enhance its effectiveness in improving disability-related attitudes.