The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in the attitudes of the students who have typical development (TD) attending inclusive physical activity (IPA) based awareness raising program with their peers with special needs. A total of 346 students, 161 females and 185 males, participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to the training group (TRG) (n=86 boys; age = 13.18±1.10 & n=87 girls; age = 13.09±1.15) and the control group (CG) (n=99 boys; age = 13.80±1.28 & n=74 girls; age = 13.98±1.16). In the research, experimental method with pre-test post-test pattern has been used. Accordingly, participants in the TRG participated in IPA activities lasting 75 minutes with their peers with special needs in their age group, while the CG continued their training in the routine process. Attitudes of the participants have been assessed with the Friendship Activity Attitude Scale before and after 75 minutes of IPA based awareness raising program. SPSS 20 package program was used for statistical analysis of data. After the IPA based awareness raising program, while the mean attitude score of the TRG was 28,32±8,90 at the beginning, it became 38,01±10,92 after the participation (p<0.05). In the CG, while the mean attitude score was 28.57±8.08 at the beginning, it became 28.31±8.08 after the participation (p>0.05). As a result; it has been found that there has been a positive change in the attitudse of the peers who participated in IPA based awareness raising program, towards their peers with special needs. As a result; It was found that there was a positive change in the attitude of the peers who participated in IPA environment towards children with special needs.
Cite this article as: Sansi A, Ünal K, Nalbant S. The Effect of Awareness Program on Attitudes of Peers Towards Children with Special Needs. Research in Sports Science 2019; 9(2); 31-4.