The Voices of College Students With Disabilities (Poster 37)

• In Event: Thursday Poster Session 12:40 pm
  In Poster Session: Special and Inclusive Education Research SIG Poster Session A

Abstract

A mixed-method study was conducted to explore the experience of students approved for academic accommodations at a northeast public research university. Interviews were conducted with sixteen college students, of whom three also participated in a focus group to explore emergent interview themes. Responses to questions from the institution’s 2020 Office of Disability Services (ODS) student survey were also analyzed. The interview and focus group participants stated that accommodations had a positive academic impact, provided access, and allowed them to demonstrate their learning. There was no consensus on specific methods of supportive instructional practices. Supportive instruction for some participants was considered a hindrance for others. The transition to remote learning removed academic barriers for some and created obstacles for others.

Authors

• Debbie Huisman, Rutgers University

• Angela M. O'Donnell, Rutgers University