Overcoming Orientation Obstacles: Improving Disability Service Orientation Programs to Promote Access and Understanding Among Disabled Students Transitioning to College

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 2:30 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Charting the Contours of Transition: Exploring Postsecondary Possibilities for People Who Identify as Disabled (Table 5)

Abstract

This study investigates approaches to disability service (DS) orientation programming in postsecondary institutions to better understand how students with disabilities (SWD) are engaged as they transition to college. Using a two-part study design, this project analyzes publicly facing web orientation content from 20 institutions and also integrates results from a recent qualitative survey of one institution’s disability service pre-orientation program for SWD. Findings indicate current limitations of orientation programming related to addressing disability needs and DS-office processes; findings also reveal the experiences of SWD and how they perceive DS-specific orientation to be helpful during their transition to college. This session will address specific deficiencies and strengths of DS orientations, and will provide recommendations for improving DS orientation for future implementation.

Author

• Sarah Young, Trinity Washington University