A little about me…

1. The Values Toward and Effectiveness of Accommodations for Students with Disabilities in Higher EducationAmanda StahlXavier University

2. A little about me… • I am Xavier student getting a bachelor’s degree in Social Work • I have studied disability theory independently of the classroom • I want to bring my knowledge and experience to the field of Social Work and the field of disabilities

3. Why did I choose this topic? • I first chose this topic because I have been to 2 different colleges and 2 different disability services. • I wanted to see if there were any best practice standards in the literature. • The lack of research was one of the reasons. • I wanted to help Xavier’s disability service office better their services

4. Review of the Literature • 17% of college students report having a disability (Christ & Stodden, 2005; Stodden, Whelley, Chang, & Harding, 2001; Tagayuna, Stodden, Chang, Zeleznik, & Whelley, 2005) • According to New Mobility magazine, the top 10 colleges focused more on programming access than on physical access (Wilson, Getzel, & Brown, 2000)

5. Review of Literature cont…. • Universities believe that they are accommodating the best they can, and students with disabilities believe services are “less then adequate” (Stodden et al.) • 22% of students who reported having a disability reported not receiving accommodations (Tagayuna et al.)

6. Review of Literature cont… • Hartman-Hall and Haaga’s (2002) research found that students are more willing to seek accommodations if they have positive reactions from their professors

7. Significant Findings of Literature Review • In Vogel’s study (2007), tutors reported that it was difficult for the tutees to explain and describe their disability to the tutor, and it was harder for the tutor to establish a relationship with the tutee • Hartman-Hall and Haaga (2002) found that the severity of learning disabilities did not have a high relationship with the willingness to seek help. Students with learning disabilities who experienced negative situations were more likely to seek help if they thought their disability was “circumscribed, changeable, and nonstigmatizing”

8. My Research

9. Research Question • Ascertain the level to which Xavier University students value people with disabilities by evaluating campus climate

10. Methods for Research Question • The research was done at Xavier University in 2008-2009--a small, private university • The survey was entitled “Campus Climate Survey” • This survey was given through Xavier’s Theology department • The surveys were done on paper and every Theology class was given the survey--61 packets were given out, which estimates about 1000 surveys • The response rate was roughly 50%

11. Methods cont… • The survey was made up of 5 demographic questions • Question 6 was a Likert scale question that focuses on people’s comfort level with people with disabilities and how much people interact with people with disabilities • Questions 7-8 ask about students with disabilities being in classes and job environments • Questions 9-12 examine discriminatory behaviors towards people with disabilities • The last 4 questions are concerned with people who have disabilities and how they perceive things at the university

12. Data Collection and Analysis • For the survey, of the 61 packets sent out, 31 were returned and 570 students responded to the survey • The survey data was entered into surveygizmo.com, giving percentages and averages for each question

13. Results • In the survey, out of the 570 responses: • The average age surveyed was 20.46 • 74% strongly agree that people with disabilities are as intelligent as people without disabilities • 32.4% strongly disagree that disability issues are discussed in their classes • 21.5% strongly agreed that inaccessibility is a problem on campus • 71.74% said they do not work with people with disabilities • 21.04% do not know if discriminatory actions against individuals with disabilities has occurred in their presence outside the classroom • 47.06% who have disabilities feel the need to play down various characteristics of their disability to fit in • 58.82% of people with disabilities believe that people without disabilities think people with disabilities need assistance

14. Demographics

20. Do you work with someone with a disability?

21. How likely are you as an individual to challenge others on derogatory comments or behaviors regarding disabilities?

22. Have discriminatory actions against individuals with disabilities ever occurred in a class you were taking? Have discriminatory actions against individuals with disabilities ever occurred in public in your presence?

23. People without disabilities think people with disabilities need assistance

24. Limitations of the Study • The study cannot be generalized to the general population • The survey had a large group of people, but is the only study. There is no similar studies like this, so it is very hard to compare it to anything.

25. Validity of the Study • The survey was made by using other minority surveys to measure campus climate (i.e. survey on race or sexual identity)

26. Thoughts for Further Research • Studies on support for students with disabilities – does it exist, and is it effective in all aspects of student life, not only academic? • More studies on campus climate • Studies focused on students with disabilities and their perceptions of themselves in higher education and in society • Studies on isolation and segregation versus acceptance and transforming people’s ideas on disabilities • Why aren’t people seeking support? How can we make support more effective?

27. Conclusions • In conclusion, this survey showed that people with disabilities have made strides toward acceptance in higher education. The study shows that a majority of people think that people with disabilities are not supported on campus and are isolated on campus. Universities have a responsibility to “the ADA Generation” to retain the success and retention of students with disabilities.