Attitudes towards Down Syndrome: A national comparative study in France, Ireland, Portugal and Spain

This study investigated children's attitudes towards children with Down syndrome in Ireland, France, Portugal and Spain. A sample of 805 children divided approximately equally by country, sex. grade level (9 and 11 years of age), and school type (inclusive or non-inclusive) participated in the study. Differences are reported for each independent variable on three dependent variables. sociability. attitude to inclusion and use of negative words to describe a child with Down syndrome. For example, in the Iberian sample, younger children. girls and children not in inclusive classrooms were more sociable towards children with Down syndrome. Further, attitude towards inclusive practice was influenced by country, age and school type. Main effects were qualified by some interactions. Results were discussed in tenns of their implications for educating children to respect differences.