Preservice Teachers' Perceptions of Including Students with Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the perceptions of future educators on two dichot-omous scales (i.e., hostility/receptivity and anxiety/calmness) regarding serving students with disabilities in general education settings. Graduate and undergraduate preservice teachers (n = 326) from three universities completed the Preservice Inclusion Survey (PSIS) during the first and last class sessions of enrollment in a survey of exceptionalities course. The results of this study have implications for future teachers' acceptance and disposition in serving students with disabilities in general classrooms. Participants in a survey of exceptionalities course significantly decreased their level of anxiety and hostility toward serving students with disabilities in general education settings. More research is needed to define disposition toward serving students with disabilities.