People with disabilities in Poland in the public perception. Comments following the survey

Abstract

The aim of this article is to try to answer the questions: How do Poles in the 21st century perceive people with disabilities? Does the development of sport for people with disabilities foster their integration with non-disabled people? In search of answers to these questions, a comparative and statistical analysis of our own research from 2019 and CBOS surveys from 2000, 2007 and 2017 was carried out. The considerations allow the following conclusions: Poles' attitudes towards people with disabilities are influenced by knowledge about disability, frequency of contact with these people and socio-demographic conditions. A shift is taking place from a medical understanding of disability to a policy of integration with non-disabled people. What is needed, however, is a paradigm shift in the approach to disability from helping the 'disabled sick' towards measures to ensure equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities.