Sample Letter to Validators

January 8, 2013

Mrs. Teresa Caritativo

Special Education Teacher

SPED-Integrated School for Exceptional Children

Mabini Street, Iloilo City

Dear Madam:

I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Education major in Special Education at West Visayas State University. I am in the process of writing my thesis entitled Societal and Personal Attitudes of Elementary Teachers Toward Persons with Disabilities. This study wishes to explore elementary regular education teachers’ societal and personal attitudes toward persons with disabilities. It hopes to acquire a general picture of teachers’ attitudes in relation to including and accommodating learners with disabilities in their classrooms.

The instruments that will be used to measure teachers’ societal and personal attitudes toward persons with disabilities are Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons Scale (Yuker et al, 1970) and Interaction with Disabled Persons Scale (Gething, 1991) respectively. These instruments are standardized and have been used in various researches. For the purpose of this study however, these instruments are modified, changing the term “disabled persons” to “persons with disabilities”. Sub-items are also added to measure not only attitudes toward persons with disabilities in general but as well as to specific type of disability such as physical-motor, sensory and intellectual/developmental disability. This is also done to address the research problem of identifying significant differences on societal and personal attitudes toward persons with disabilities in respect to the type of disability. Moreover, definitions of the type of disability are indicated in hand with the instructions to avoid ambiguities and misinterpretation. 

In this regard, I would like to ask your knowledge and expertise to assess the validity and cultural appropriateness of the said instruments. With your reputable opinion, I am positive that I could improve and utilize these instruments to attain the objectives of the study. 

Attached herewith are the original and modified versions of Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons Scale and Interaction with Disabled Persons Scale. If you have any clarifications, you may contact me through these numbers 09203669320.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Respectfully yours,

JAYLORD S. LOSABIA

Researcher

Noted by:

PROF. SHERBETH CONSEBIT

Thesis Adviser