Disparate Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Deaf College Students

• In Event: From Surviving to Thriving: Institutional Support and Well-Being for Diverse Student Groups

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted the question of institutional capacity to retain their most vulnerable students during this time of crisis. A secondary analysis of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) dataset explored deaf students’ experiences during COVID-19 with communications from their college and disruptions related to finances, housing, or academics, and whether deaf students were more likely to leave their institutions than hearing students. Findings demonstrated that despite deaf students receiving similar amounts of helpful communication as their hearing peers, and experiencing fewer economic disruptions, they were still nearly twice as likely to take a leave of absence or withdraw from their institution during the pandemic. Findings highlight deaf college students' vulnerability to leaving college despite receiving institutional support.

Authors

• Carrie Lou Bloom, University of Texas at Austin

• Jeffrey Levi Palmer, University of Texas at Austin