Intellectual disability stigma and initiatives to challenge it and promote inclusion around the globe

Abstract

There is a dearth of studies that have examined the attitudes of society toward people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) on a global scale. This study set out to gauge the extent to which ID continues to be stigmatized and to which initiatives are in place to increase their inclusion and tackle stigma around the globe. Data were collected using a web survey from 667 experts and organizations in the (intellectual) disability field pertaining to 88 countries and covering all world regions. Information about the study was disseminated by four multinational disability organizations, and the survey was available in five languages. Findings and responses indicated that the general public in many parts of the world broadly support the fundamental principle of inclusion of children and adults with IDs, yet negative attitudes persist. High levels of stigma and denial of fundamental rights still appeared a reality in many places. Initiatives to tackle stigma appeared patchy and least in evidence where they were most needed. In many parts of the world the life chances of people with IDs often appear still very poor, and support and advocacy almost entirely their families' responsibility. More needs to be done globally to reduce the stigma associated with ID and to promote active engagement and regular social interactions between persons with IDs and their fellow citizens without IDs.

“When They See a Wheelchair, They’ve Not Even Seen Me”—Factors Shaping the Experience of Disability Stigma and Discrimination in Kenya

“…As previously shown in relevant literature [ 60 , 61 ], findings from both studies confirm that the occurrence of frequent positive and normalized interactions between people with and without disabilities had a significant impact on minimizing disability stigma. When people without disability had no opportunity to interact with their peers with disabilities, they were more likely to see them as different, not part of their societies, and were more likely to fear, pity or simply avoid them.…”

The Experiences and Perceptions of College Peer Mentors Interacting with Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

“…Such barriers limit their opportunities to meet, interact with, and befriend individuals without disabilities (Hall, 2017; Pottie & Sumarah, 2004; Tipton et al, 2013). These barriers to community participation are not only the result of the loss of the structured social supports individuals with IDD are often provided during the school years (e.g., peer supports) (Carter, 2017; Taylor et al, 2017), but they are also related to societal barriers to participation, including negative attitudes of those without disabilities toward individuals with IDD (Scior et al, 2020).…”

Intellectual disability literacy and its connection to stigma: A multinational comparison study in three European countries

“…Although social contact has been shown to be most effective to reduce stigma and negative attitudes towards persons with ID [ 34 , 35 ], efforts to reduce ID stigma are sparse and need to be more prominent [ 3 ]. This is especially alarming, when taking the negative consequences of stigma and the implications for people with ID into account [ 37 ].…”

“…People with intellectual disabilities (ID) are prone to being stigmatized and marginalized [ 1 – 3 ]. This has a direct negative effect on their quality of life and possibility for participation, contradicting the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the United Nations (UN-CRPD) [ 4 ].…”