June 2003 

Multinational Study of Attitudes toward Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

For many years, the athletes, family members and volunteers of Special Olympics have known that Special Olympics changes attitudes for the better. We also have known that too many people hold negative attitudes toward individuals with intellectual disabilities, and that these attitudes have a detrimental effect on the lives and opportunities of our athletes and others with intellectual disabilities. Most importantly, we have experienced the effect of poor attitudes in the low levels of interest, support and commitment we too frequently encounter. For our movement to be successful in promoting all the joys of sport, we must challenge the subtle but pervasive fear and misunderstanding that is all too common around the world today.