Parental attitudes toward the developmentally disabled among Arab communities in Israel: a cross-cultural study

The present study investigated the attitudes of 184 Arab families toward their developmentally disabled children, using a questionnaire on Attitudes Towards Disabled Persons, (Yuker, Block and Campbel, 1960). The major findings were that generally attitudes were positive, with the Druze showing the most positive ones, while the Muslims and Christians expressed less positive attitudes. A major factor that was found to correlate with less positive attitudes was education. In our sample the more educated (many Christians) showed less favorable attitudes. The main conclusion of this study was that since Arab society in Israel is dynamic, and old traditions are forespoken for new ones, it is important to preserve positive attitudes--which have their roots in past traditions--towards developmentally disabled by enhancing modern concepts relating to their education and rehabilitation.