Belonging and Motivation of Students With Disabilities in Higher Education

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Transitioning to Adulthood: Career Readiness and Inclusion for Students With Disabilities (Table 11)

Abstract

Students with Disabilities (SWDs) in higher education have been largely overlooked in studies concerning sense of belonging and motivation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate college SWDs’ sense of belonging and motivation related to their higher education experience at a public research university. A survey targeting SWDs was disseminated to all students via email. Results showed that perceived barriers negatively predicted sense of belonging, cost, and self-efficacy; however, the length of the survey led to a high level of attrition and further investigation is warranted to assess the integrity of the results.

Authors

• Angela Barbour, University of Oklahoma

• Benjamin C. Heddy, University of Oklahoma