Europe most open to mental disabilities

WASHINGTON, June 29 (UPI) -- Surveys by Gallup indicate Europeans perceive their communities to be the most receptive to people with intellectual disabilities.

Officials at Gallup say they began measuring global perceptions of receptivity toward those with intellectual disabilities in 2010 in consultation with the Special Olympics, and is providing a first look at this survey data.

The surveys, conducted in 112 countries, indicate 55 percent with an opinion on the matter worldwide say their city or area where they live is a good place for people with intellectual disabilities.

Perceived receptivity is highest in Europe, with 80 percent saying their communities are good for people with intellectual disabilities, but lowest in the former Soviet Union at 47 percent and Asia at 46 percent.

In the Middle East and North Africa, 50 percent of those with an opinion say their communities are good places for people with intellectual disabilities, but it varies within the region, with a low of 24 percent in Yemen and a high of 79 percent in Syria.

The survey data was collected via the telephone and face-to-face interviews of about 1,000 per survey age 15 and older. The surveys' margin of error ranges from 1.7 percentage points to 4.7 percentage points.