“Should I Get Help?” The Motivation of College Students With Disabilities to Utilize the University Support Services

• In Event: Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: Learning and Motivation in Education

Abstract

The current study investigated the motivation of college students with disabilities to disclose their disability and utilize university support services. Twelve college students with a diversity of disabilities from a large urban university were interviewed. Analysis involved a combination of inductive and deductive procedures informed by Self-Determination Theory. Findings highlighted the important role of psychological need-support by disability support services in high-school in students’ sense of self, perceived goals and actions, and motivation to disclose their disability and utilize support services in college. The need-support of the university disability services also played a role in students’ utilization of services. Implications for the way university disability support services can promote effective utilization of services by students with disabilities are discussed.

Authors

• Rachel H. Meyer, Ursuline College

• Nicholas R. Hood, Temple University

• Avi Kaplan, Temple University

• John Bennett, Temple University