Preferences for Disability Acknowledgement: Variance across Situations and Individuals

We examined the conditions under which acknowledgment of physical or mental disabilities was considered to be more or less socially permissible. In Study 1, participants responded to 27 scenarios that varied in terms of (a) the necessity of disability accommodations, (b) need for education/awareness, (c) concern for unfair advantage-taking, and (d) concern for shaming and stigmatization. Analyses indicated substantial variability in support for disability acknowledgement both across scenarios, and across individuals. In Study 2, the four aforementioned factors were varied experimentally within a set of scenarios. Consistent with the patterns observed in Study 1, support for disability acknowledgement was greater in cases where accommodations were more pressing, or if a clear need to educate others was present. Support was reduced in cases where there was a concern for unfair advantages or shaming/stigmatization. Corresponding mediational evidence was presented. Finally, in Study 3, we examined the relationship between disability acknowledgement preferences and individual difference constructs including political ideology, anti-disability prejudice, and social dominance orientation. Findings indicated that disability acknowledgement can be motivated by different sets of values depending upon these characteristics.<b></b>