THE ATTITUDES OF STUDENTS IN BULGARIA AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

  • Margarita Ruseva University of Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski”
  • Vesela Kazashka Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts – Plovdiv
Keywords: special pedagogics, attitudes, disabilities

Abstract

The paper is covering a survey aimed to find out what is the publicity and the interest of society in people with disabilities, what is the public attitude of students towards this stigmatized group of people, are there any already formed stereotypes and positive stigmas of the people with disabilities, how to achieve their overall integration into society, i.e. starting from the family, through university and finally at work.   

We carried out surveys (questionnaires) among students from the Czech Republic and Republic of Bulgaria, as for this purpose we interviewed 100 students from both countries.

This work reviews the concept of a relation between people with disabilities and the students, and the positive attitude of the latter for the purpose of integration into society. This survey uses several statistical methods. This fact increases its value and in great extent increases the possibilities of obtaining adequate and credible results.

As a result of the survey, we determined the following: Direct contact with people with special educational needs is more influential both for people with disabilities and for the change of attitudes towards them. Overcoming the problem with the socialization and realization of the people with disabilities, both in public and personal aspect are a positive stigma which is a motivator and generator of new attitudes. Positive stigma, positive examples and direct contact are catalysts of the social processes related to people with disabilities and stimulate attitudes of the society and the individual.

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Published
2018-09-27