PERCEPTION OF DISABILITY BY NONDISABLED

30 male and 20 female graduate students rated the seriousness of 4 disability types for 6 personal-social areas as they would affect a 28-yr-old male, married, and with 2 pre-teen-age children. Using Duncan's multiple-range test, 70% of the pairs of personal-social dimensions were found to differ significantly. As predicted, locus of control and ratings of the seriousness of emotional disorders were significantly correlated (r = -.30). The hypothesis that disabilities other than emotional disorders would be viewed as more debilitating by externally controlled persons was not supported. Implications of the findings for rehabilitation programs are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.