The attitudes of teachers toward intellectual disability (ID) contribute to an effective school inclusion of students with ID, thereby enhancing their quality of life. The present study was aimed at investigating the attitude differences toward ID of mainstream and special-education teachers in Italy and the general and specific teachers’ characteristics most related to these attitudes. An online version of the Attitudes toward Intellectual Disability (ATTID) questionnaire was filled by 307 mainstream teachers and 237 special-education teachers. The findings show that special-education teachers held more positive attitudes. Specific ATTID dimensions were positively affected for both types of teachers by previous training in special education/ID, perceived support, and promotion of positive attitudes toward ID, in addition to the quality of relationships with individuals with ID, while they were positively affected for special-education teachers by perceived efficacy of ID knowledge. No or very limited effects were observed for previous experience in teaching students with typical development or ID (even with severe/profound ID). Fostering resources to provide teachers with high-quality training, support, and resources and strategies to promote positive attitudes toward ID seems a relevant approach leading to favorable attitudes, thereby improving the quality of life of students with ID.
This paper aims to bring research findings on the curricular teacher’s and curricular support teacher’s attitude toward students with intellectual disabilities. The results bring to imagine possible changes in the current training system that, deepening intellectual disability in discipline and laboratory terms, not necessarily and intentionally get a suitable space to evaluate and work on initial placements. The exercise of reflective competence, necessary to feed a mature self-awareness, is also essential to withstand the possible involutions experienced in school contexts, still far from the inclusive dimension.
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