Teaching for Inclusion: Using Transformative Learning to Change Attitudes Toward People With Disabilities in Higher Education

Yael Shraga Roitman; Noa Tal Alon; Amital Cohen; Nitsan Almog; Wedad Masalha

doi:10.1177/15413446251388391

Teaching for Inclusion: Using Transformative Learning to Change Attitudes Toward People With Disabilities in Higher Education

Yael Shraga Roitman^*
, Noa Tal Alon
, Amital Cohen
, Nitsan Almog
, Wedad Masalha

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The social model views disability as diversity rather than tragedy, making disability studies a transformative experience in higher education. This study examines the impact of the course “Persons with Disabilities in the Circle of Life,” taught at an Israeli academic college, on students’ attitudes. Using the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale (Findler et al., 2007), 206 students were surveyed at the start and end of the course. Results showed significant improvements in affective and behavioral attitudes toward people with disabilities. These findings underscore the value of transformative learning in disability studies for fostering positive attitudes and promoting inclusion in educational settings.

Original language	English
Article number	15413446251388391
Journal	Journal of Transformative Education
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/15413446251388391
State	Accepted/In press - 2025
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

attitudes
disability studies
higher education
inclusion
transformative learning

Access to Document

10.1177/15413446251388391

Cite this

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title = "Teaching for Inclusion: Using Transformative Learning to Change Attitudes Toward People With Disabilities in Higher Education",

abstract = "The social model views disability as diversity rather than tragedy, making disability studies a transformative experience in higher education. This study examines the impact of the course “Persons with Disabilities in the Circle of Life,” taught at an Israeli academic college, on students{\textquoteright} attitudes. Using the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale (Findler et al., 2007), 206 students were surveyed at the start and end of the course. Results showed significant improvements in affective and behavioral attitudes toward people with disabilities. These findings underscore the value of transformative learning in disability studies for fostering positive attitudes and promoting inclusion in educational settings.",

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AU - Tal Alon, Noa

AU - Cohen, Amital

AU - Almog, Nitsan

AU - Masalha, Wedad

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - The social model views disability as diversity rather than tragedy, making disability studies a transformative experience in higher education. This study examines the impact of the course “Persons with Disabilities in the Circle of Life,” taught at an Israeli academic college, on students’ attitudes. Using the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale (Findler et al., 2007), 206 students were surveyed at the start and end of the course. Results showed significant improvements in affective and behavioral attitudes toward people with disabilities. These findings underscore the value of transformative learning in disability studies for fostering positive attitudes and promoting inclusion in educational settings.

AB - The social model views disability as diversity rather than tragedy, making disability studies a transformative experience in higher education. This study examines the impact of the course “Persons with Disabilities in the Circle of Life,” taught at an Israeli academic college, on students’ attitudes. Using the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale (Findler et al., 2007), 206 students were surveyed at the start and end of the course. Results showed significant improvements in affective and behavioral attitudes toward people with disabilities. These findings underscore the value of transformative learning in disability studies for fostering positive attitudes and promoting inclusion in educational settings.

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Teaching for Inclusion: Using Transformative Learning to Change Attitudes Toward People With Disabilities in Higher Education

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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