Nine Out Of Ten Say Public Figures Should Be Positive About Disability

Scope, the UK's largest disability charity, is calling on high profile figures to lead the way in breaking down barriers facing disabled people after a survey today showed almost nine out of ten (86%) people expect them to show a positive attitude to disability.

A MORI telephone poll of 1001 people, carried out for Scope, found that 86% of people agreed (64% strongly) with the statement "To what extent do you agree, or disagree, that people who are in senior positions in society, or who are well-known, should show a positive attitude to disabled people?"

The poll was carried out following this week's resignation of England Coach Glenn Hoddle after he was quoted as having said that people who are born disabled are paying for their sins in a previous life.

Richard Brewster, Scope's Chief Executive said: "The biggest barrier disabled people face is negative attitudes. While we recognise that these pervade every level in society, people in high profile positions are role models for many and must understand the impact their words can have.

"Disabled children and adults still face enormous discrimination and loss of opportunities throughout life at school, trying to get a job and so on. Senior figures can play a vital part in changing society's behaviour at large if they have a good understanding of what it means to be disabled. Anybody in such a position who would like to improve their understanding should not hesitate to contact Scope. We all have a responsibility to ask ourselves if our own attitude contributes to the barriers facing disabled people but this would at least be a step in the right direction."

A separate survey by Scope conducted in 1994 leading to the publication of the report "Disabled in Britain" found:

• 75% of disabled people agree with the statement "people jump to conclusions about what I can and can't do without establishing the facts."
• 60% agree with the statement "people get embarrassed because they don't know how to cope with my disability."
• 51% of disabled people feel they have been refused a job interview or job itself because of their disability, even though they were qualified to do it.
• 67% of 18-24 year olds have been called names because of their disability

In the first widescale survey comparing the aspirations and feelings of non-disabled and disabled children Scope research found:

• Half of non-disabled boys regarded footballers as their favourite famous person (49%.)
• Among disabled boys the most frequently quoted ideal job was footballer (18%.)
• 30% of disabled children in mainstream schools said other children made them sad.
• 34% of disabled children said people often stare at them.

Technical details

MORI placed the questions on a telephone omnibus survey. All interviews were conducted by telephone among a nationally representative sample of 1,0001 adults aged 15+, between 2-3 February 1999.