The numerous stressors and strains of the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to growing numbers of college students experiencing disabilities and needing support. This practice brief explores the challenges faced by disability resource professionals (DRPs) during the pandemic in reaching and supporting students potentially needing accommodations, but…

Underestimating the important role that disability plays in our growing world, the environment, and our inter-dependent economies is no longer acceptable. Far from being placed in a subaltern position, disability plays a significant role in theory and research development in the most recent waves of initiatives addressing work, resources, and the…

While early literature in accessibility services in postsecondary education largely focused on physically disabled students, their presence in the peer-reviewed literature from 1951-2012 was described as sparse by Gelbar et al. (2015). The studies that existed were largely descriptive, and no studies investigated the effectiveness of…

A collaboration between campus partners including the center for teaching and learning and a fee-based student learning support program set out to engage faculty in an educational campaign aimed at designing inclusive classrooms for neurodiverse students. The Neurodiversity Institute, a two-day interactive experience, provides faculty with tools…

This classroom study explored how to make positive psychology exercises more accessible to neurodivergent college students. Neurodiversity is an umbrella term for identities linked to autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodevelopmental differences. Students participating in the study engaged in weekly evidence-based activities to support…

Using data from a multi-institutional grounded theory study, this paper details the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that 59 U.S. college students with disabilities used to cope with ableist stressors in postsecondary learning environments. Specifically, this manuscript highlights the varied coping strategies students adopted as they responded to…

Many students with physical disabilities graduating with a postsecondary STEM degree do not acquire full-time employment. Work experiences can provide undergraduates with authentic experiential learning to help them better prepare for successful STEM careers. Internships provide an important transitional learning phase for students with…

The college experience can significantly increase feelings of anxiety in all students, as students find themselves in evaluative settings where academic, and often social abilities, are judged. Moreover, high levels of anxiety can lead to significant difficulties with navigating the challenges of college. For students with autism symptomatology,…

Obtaining and submitting documentation related to disabilities to instructors is a known barrier to students accessing necessary accommodations. We assessed whether the implementation of a universal course design procedure, an automatic re-weight for students who missed a midterm exam without requiring documentation, was associated with…

Many individuals have experienced increased stress and distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. College students with disabilities may have experienced the pandemic as more threatening and stressful due to exposure to risk factors for contracting COVID-19 and stressors related to college and health and safety. This study examined differences in…

Colleges are becoming increasingly diverse, including strengthening representation of students with disabilities in STEM (Science, Teaching, Engineering, and Math) fields; however, representation still lags behind national trends. To adapt to this changing demographic and improve representation, STEM college professors must be prepared to grant…

Autism is the fourth-largest disability category in the US, and autistic high school students' expectations for college education in a wide variety of fields have been ever-growing. This paper focuses on the pursuit of STEM-related education for students with autism and the unique needs of these students and techniques to improve outcomes.…

This study examined the social networks of 26 postsecondary students with mobility and sensory disabilities regarding their perceptions of career preparation and career choice confidence. Social networks have been shown to contribute to postsecondary students' academic success and establishing a successful career for those with and without…

Higher education institutions in Japan are increasingly focused on supporting students with developmental disorders, but these individuals still face daunting challenges. Although research has demonstrated the positive effects of peer support on student socialization and academic performance, few studies have examined the perspectives or…

Researchers examined stigma attached to people with disabilities, focusing specifically on stigma regarding individuals with intellectual disabilities. The study involved focus groups with undergraduate college students in a major South Florida University, who did not self-identify as having any disabilities. We performed content analysis to…