Preferences and Expectations of Scout Leaders Toward Mildly Mentally Impaired and Wheelchair-Bound Physically Handicapped Boys.

Abstract

This study investigated the preferences of Scout Leaders toward handicapped boys mainstreamed within regular Boy Scout troops, as expressed by their expectations for mildly mentally impaired (MI) and wheelchair-bound physically handicapped (PH) boys, according to type of membership, extent of program participation, potential rank advancement, and respect for their leadership. A survey instrument was developed to obtain data relative to (1) the existence of a hierarchical preference between referent groups, (2) belief in the value of Scouting for handicapped boys, (3) self-confidence in working with handicapped boys, (4) impact of parental requests for exclusion of handicapped boys from regular troops, and (5) influence of personal and Scouting demographics and experiences with handicapped persons. Data were tested by chi-square analyses and Fisher's exact test for 131 Scout Leaders. Results of the study indicated (1) PH boys were preferred over MI boys; (2) MI and PH boys were expected to participate in most Scouting activities; (3) immediate hesitation for h and ling MI boys, and more persistent concern for PH immobility problems; (4) belief in the value of Scouting for handicapped boys influences more positive expectations for MI boys in all areas, and for PH boys in membership and advancement; (5) self-confidence in working with handicapped boys influences more positive expectations for PH boys than MI boys; (6) request for exclusion of handicapped boys from regular troops by parents of nonhandicapped peers would result in over half of the leaders transferring the boy to another troop, almost as many leaders referring decisions to Troop Committees or local councils, and only a minute number accepting boys outright or persuading parents to accept them; (7) married leaders, 30 to 49 years old, who attended but did not graduate from college were more accepting of handicapped boys than other leaders; and (8) experience with handicapped Scout persons was found to be the most influential variable affecting acceptance of handicapped boys within regular troops, while leaders who had experiences with their own handicapped children and other persons were self-confident in working with handicapped boys, in contrast to leaders with no experience.