June 22, 2010 Progress towards teaching children to have
positive attitudes towards disabled people has been slow and
'patchy', according to a new study funded by the Economic and
Social Research Council (ESRC). Many primary school teachers
admit they 'could do better'. Lack of resources or insufficient
training has led to teaching that is often inadequate and
lacking in confidence, claim researchers. "Some of the reasons
for the lack of positive promotion of disability in primary
schools are; uncertainty about how to fit disability equality
into the curriculum or a reluctance to talk about disability for
fear of highlighting 'difference' " says the study. The
Disability Equality in English Primary Schools Project, led by
Dr Angharad Beckett of Leeds University, focused on the extent
and nature of teaching for disability equality, whilst also
examining children's understanding of what it means to be
disabled. In December 2006, a legal duty was placed upon public
sector organisations to promote equality for di