Experiences are the impressions developed through gaining, using, fostering, and sometimes disposing of a service or product. Recent years have shown an ongoing emphasis placed on experiences and their impacts; one of particular interest for this study are the experiences of para-collegiate student-athletes. Using the Experience Type Framework…

This grounded theory study uses a semi-structured interview process, as well as a differentiated information acquisition approach to explore the perceptions and experiences of individuals who identify as neurodivergent in the postsecondary setting. The aim of this study is to gain firsthand knowledge about the lived experiences of former and…

The problem addressed in this study was that students with mental health disabilities experience poor academic outcomes despite opportunities for academic accommodations. The purpose of the study was to explore how students with mental health disabilities perceived their experiences of being accommodated at an art and design university.…

The purpose of this study was to understand the factors which are influencing the low number of students living with autism spectrum disorders who graduate from four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities within six years of enrollment. This instrumental case study investigated the higher education experience for 13 students who…

The number of students with disabilities attending postsecondary institutions of higher education continues to rise. With it, it is necessary to understand better how they experience their institution beyond curricular spaces. Presently, there exists a gap in the knowledge of how these students experience co-curricular support, including…

The purpose of this study is to better understand the subjective viewpoints of faculty members toward students with psychological disabilities as a subset of the larger student population with unique needs due to the hidden nature of the barriers they experience. This Q methodology study explores the views of 29 faculty who have taught students…

This research study presents the Scale of Dis/ability Apparentness in Education Settings (SDAES) to explore the complex and dynamic nature of dis/abled apparentness among college students. The study combines qualitative and quantitative data to examine five key domains: Environment, Ableism, Identity, Taking Action, and Embodied Dis/ability,…

The inclusion of students with Down Syndrome in public school did not come about in the United States until the mid-1970s, when parents and professionals advocated for a disabled child's right to attend school with their typically abled peers (Grigal et al., 2018). This inclusive practice and several legislative actions have been influencing the…

With the emergence of more awareness of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and an emerging understanding of adult ADHD, there is a growing need in colleges and universities for accurate diagnosis of students. In the US, approximately 6% of students enrolling in college for 2014 reported having a diagnosis with ADHD, making it the most…

This multi-manuscript dissertation comprises two interconnected articles that collectively explore the experiences of college students with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) engaging in wellness interventions within inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) settings in the southeastern region of the United States. Wellness…

This dissertation explored how 11 college students who self-identified with disabilities made meaning of college experience and how they negotiated dis/abilities in their learning. Their narratives performed counter-narrative of disability in higher education. As scholars and practitioners work to increase educational opportunities for…

A four-year college degree is associated with numerous positive outcomes for students, from increased average earning potential to opportunities for personal development. Yet, for individuals with disabilities, large medical bills and other disability-related expenses may make affording college especially difficult. This study used a convergent…

The neurodiversity paradigm arose from the autistic community as a part of a selfdefinition process and in direct opposition to medical models of disability which continue to dominate education policy, practice, and research. Drawing heavily from fields such as disability studies, critical (dis)ability, and feminist scholarship, neurodiversity…

This qualitative phenomenological study investigates the transition to college experience for students with learning disabilities who participated in a high school transition-to-college curriculum. Utilizing individual, semi-structured interviews with seven graduates from an independent school for students with learning disabilities currently…

Belonging is an essential human need, regardless of whether or not one has a disability, and has been found to positively impact one's physical and mental health. Feelings of belonging for college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) have largely been unexplored in research. Using the 10 Dimensions of Belonging…