Discussions about students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) often center on finding solutions for the difficulties they face in school. However, there is a lack of emphasis on the self-advocacy experiences of these students. Self-advocacy can empower students with SLD to pursue their interests, understand their rights, and effectively…

Federal and state guidelines on when students with disabilities should become more active in their own special education are notoriously vague, often leaving many school districts across the United States to their own interpretations on the appropriateness of when and how to do so. This is especially pertinent for younger students with…

Adults with disabilities are more likely than their non-disabled peers to struggle with self-advocacy after graduating from school, as they are less likely to have the skills or knowledge necessary to communicate their needs, access services, or exercise their rights in communities and workplaces. Special Education transition programs are…

Self-determination is a vital skill for individuals with disabilities and provides significant benefits, like more positive adult outcomes and greater qualities of life. Recreational sports participation is another fundamental aspect of life for individuals with disabilities, as it leads to increased physical activity, enhanced self-esteem, and…

During the past decade, numerous postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disability have emerged as have standards to improve the quality of those programs. We used the Think College Standards for Inclusive Higher Education to develop a family survey to evaluate and improve programs. Overall, family responses were positive for most…

Although social groups have "insiders," this construct has not been measured within the disability advocacy community. Examining 405 individuals who applied for an advocacy training program, this study examined the nature of insiderness within the disability advocacy community and ties to individual roles. Participants showed differences…

School counselors are advocates for all students, which includes supporting students who are eligible for accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This study examined school counselors' roles in regards to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. As advocates, school counselors often have opportunities for…

Students with disabilities are an increasing subpopulation in higher education. Recently, research has put an emphasis on students' voices to explore their academic learning experiences, as well as the learning strategies they use to overcome learning barriers. This study aimed to investigate the academic learning experiences of students with…

Background: The US Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that children with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education. However, it does not specifically include the subject of health education. Currently, 30 US states require public schools to teach sexuality education as a part of the health education curriculum, but…

This report examines common practices in providing support to deaf students across various postsecondary institutions in the United States, identifying both successful strategies and areas needing improvement. By evaluating the availability and effectiveness of services such as speech-to-text and interpreting, this report highlights gaps and…

This article offers a comparative thematic analysis of two datasets: the online writings of Autistic self-advocates on navigating neurotypical programs (emic dataset), and discussions on autism within the most widely circulated undergraduate Adapted Physical Activity (etic dataset). Our 3 themes describe some of the most significant ways that APA…

Self-determination and self-advocacy are critical skills for students with disabilities (SWD). Around the world, practitioners and educators express concerns that students transitioning from school to post-high school settings often lack the awareness to discuss their strengths, preferences, and needs. To improve self-determination, a one-year…

This Brief provides an overview of how students' insights on the usefulness and feasibility of various accessibility features and accommodations should be taken into account when identifying accessibility features and accommodations for instruction and assessment. Students are often the best source of information about their strengths and needs,…

The steady increase of students with disabilities (SWD) enrolling in higher education can lead to barriers regarding the continued receipt of academic supports that can ensure positive outcomes in college; these challenges to obtain equitable supports similar to those received in PK-12 can make college transition more difficult. The problem…

Autistic students are enrolling at higher educational institutions at an increasing rate. To keep up with the population of pupils, colleges and universities are finding ways to support students. Yet, a small percentage of students who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder do not succeed in attaining a degree. This trend is significant and…