A STUDY OF PHYSICAL THERAPISTS' ATTITUDES AND VIEWS TOWARD PHYSICAL THERAPISTS WWITH DISABILITIES IN ACADEMIC AND CLINICAL SETTINGS. Donald S. Kowalsky* PT, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT PURPOSE: To determine if attitudes toward individuals with disabilities differ between physical therapy faculty members, physical therapy clinicians, and physical therapy students. To determine if views, regarding the level of difficulty individuals with various disabilities would have completing a physical therapy educational program, gaining employment as a physical therapist, and functioning effectively as a physical therapist differ among groups and are related to their attitudes. BACKGROUNDS/SIGNIFICANCE: The number of students with disabilities in physical therapy programs across the country has been increasing. There is controversy regarding the ability of individuals with various disabilities to function effectively as physical therapists. It has been suggested that one's perception of the abilities of individuals with various disabilities, may be related to their general attitude toward individuals with disability. SUBJECTS: The sample consisted of full time faculty (N = 35) who are licensed physical therapists teaching in accredited physical therapy programs in Connecticut, physical therapy students (N = 136), in the four accredited programs in Connecticut, and practicing physical therapists in the state of Connecticut (N = 116). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Respondents completed the Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons Scale, (ATDP), (Yuker, Block, and Campbell 1962), the Interactions with Disabled Persons Scale (IDP), (Gething 1989), and a questionnaire developed by the researcher. This questionnaire gathered data on the views of respondents, regarding the level of difficulty individuals with various disabilities would have completing a physical therapy educational program, gaining employment as a physical therapist, and functioning effectively as a physical therapist. ANALYSES: Data was coded, verified and entered into SPSS. Analysis of Variance was performed to determine differences between groups. Cross tabulations and Chi- square analysis was performed to determine significant relationships between attitudes and views. Alpha level was set at p≦.05. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in attitudes toward individuals with disabilities between groups was found. Statistically significant relationships between the respondents attitudes toward individuals with disabilities and their views on the level of difficulty individuals with various disabilities would have completing the educational requirements to become a physical therapist, gaining employment as a physical therapist, and functioning effectively as a physical therapist were found. CONCLUSIONS: Attitudes towards individuals with disability and perceptions of the ability of individuals with disabilities are related. More positive attitudes towards individuals with disabilities by the physical therapy profession as a whole will allow individuals with disabilities to enter the profession of physical therapy in greater numbers. Assessing the prospective physical therapy students' attitude toward individuals with disabilities should be utilized in student admission criteria. FUNDING SOURCE: None KEYWORDS: Disability, Attitudes, Physical Therapists, Abilities Copyright 2009 by the American Physical Therapy Association. Requests for reprints should be directed to the corresponding author of the article. Educators, students, and other academic customers may receive permission to reprint copyrighted material from Physical Therapy (ISSN 1538-6724) by contacting the Copyright Clearance Center Inc, 222 Rosewood Dr, Danvers, MA 01923. Other types of customers who want permission to reprint should contact the APTA Editorial Office, Attn: Physical Therapy.