Persistent ableism in higher education, counseling practice, and society necessitates disability justice advocacy. In this article, the author explores the historical context of disability and the importance of disability knowledge for counselors and counselor educators. In addition to discrimination and inaccessibility, able privilege and lack of…

A review of 29 juried journal articles from 2009-2022, among other sources, found that autistic students face numerous systemic barriers to success in postsecondary settings. Despite autistic students being academically prepared, many are not persisting and completing a postsecondary program. Major findings from the literature include the benefits…

In this article, Amy Boelé presents a conceptualization of community that challenges the goal of independence as an ultimate ideal. Building on in situ tensions within independence ideologies, she illustrates the contradictions that exist when the approach to achieving community access for individuals with developmental disabilities requires full…

Strong mental and behavioral health supports on campus can improve the academic performance of students and increase their resilience and ability to handle stress, with reduced suicide rates, substance abuse, and eating disorders, but this study reveals that students with mental health disabilities continue to face barriers to accessing counseling…

Interviews with three people who use wheelchairs (aged 10, 41, and 72) revealed they were not well informed about Americans with Disabilities Act standards and their civil rights; they were knowledgeable about architectural accessibility. The perceptions and experiences of these different age groups can help occupational therapists provide…

This report discusses the societal oppression of people with disabilities and the growing awareness of a new group consciousness and an emerging disability culture. It examines social attitudes toward individuals with disabilities; the effects of using a medical model of disability, with its implications for the objectification and control of…

This manual provides information on and instructions for administering the Work Experience Survey (WES), a 30- to 60-minute structured interview methodology to help individuals with disabilities direct their own accommodation planning. Section 1 describes the WES, which consists of six sections: (1) background information on the respondent, (2) an…

In this article, the author identifies and answers questions related to legal issues of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in comparison with Section 504 or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the NCLB. The author's answers to several questions concerning legal issues of IDEA are presented.

This report describes the rejuvenation of the Barrier Breakers at New Mexico State University, a student group that was designed to ensure that students with disabilities had access to and accommodations for instruction. The new group, the Association for the Concerns of the Handicapped (ACH), provides advocacy for environmental access and program…

This book is designed to provide occupational therapist and occupational therapists and assistant educators with information on the rights of higher education students with disabilities and the rights of the occupational therapy profession to uphold its standards. Chapter 1, "Legal Foundations," provides an overview of federal law,…