What is it about?
Mobility aids are used by many disabled people and yet there is little research studying the impact mobility aids can have on how disabled people are viewed by non-disabled people. In this study, I examined how three types of mobility aids (wheelchairs, canes, and a non-specified mobility aid) impact how university students view disabled people.
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Why is it important?
The findings of this study suggest that mobility aids are related to the attitudes and stereotypes university students have towards disabled people. Although more research is needed, these findings suggests that the way non-disabled view disabled people may be related to the type of mobility aid the disabled person is using.
Perspectives
I hope this article can highlight the influential role mobility aids can have in disabled people's lives. Although they are typically seen as simply a form of medical equipment, the findings of this study suggest that mobility aids can impact how disabled people are viewed by the people around them. Moving forward, I hope rehabilitation specialists will validate concerns about the social consequences of using mobility aids and work with disabled people to find mobility aids that meet their physical and social needs and desires.
Catherine Hall
University of Guelph
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: How university students view disabled people: The role of wheelchairs, canes, and unspecified mobility aids., Rehabilitation Psychology, July 2024, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/rep0000563.
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