Attitudes about disabilities in a southeastern American Indian tribe

The results of a structured interview with members of a southeastern American Indian tribe on attitudes about disabilities and experiences with people with disabilities are reported. For nearly a century and a half, members of this tribe lived an isolated existence, resulting in the development of a rare recessive genetic disorder, Marinesco-Sjogren syndrome (MSS), which is characterized by cataracts, short stature, progressive muscular weakness and mental retardation.