Determination social acceptance level of disabled peer by the students at primary school second degree and secondary school institutes

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine social acceptance level of disabled peer by the students at primary school second degree and secondary school institutes. Total 580 students who studied to primary school second degree and secondary schools that bound to Directorate of National Education in Balıkesir city Bandırma village and accepted to participate to the study were consisted of the sample. Data was collected with descriptive survey form and 'Social Acceptance Scale'. Level of acceptance of disabled students with high scores on the scale is assessed as high, the acceptance level of the low points is assessed as low. For analysis, median, chi-square, percentage and Mann-Whitney U tests were used. It is determined that of the students; 50.2% were girl, 50.3% were studying at primary second degree, 49.7% were studying at secondary school, 9.1% had got a disabled member in family, %4.5 had a disabled peer in class, 53.7% knew a disabled person out of family. It is found that age, gender and studying with disabled peer affected social acceptance (p<0.05). With increased age social acceptance scores increased, scores of girls were higher than boys and scores of the students who studied with a disabled peer in class were lower. It is suggested that disability education should be given to the students in order to increase acceptance levels of them related to disabled peers and the studies should be done that increase collaboration of nurses in school health team. Keywords: Peer, disabled, social acceptance