Disability Support Services in Higher Education: An Extension of the Rehabilitation Process

1996 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 54-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annemarie Carroll ◽  
Claudia E. Johnson Bown

In recent years, the number of students in higher education who are requesting services, from university offices of Disability Support Services (DSS) has increased dramatically, While surveys suggest that the majority of DSS offices are providing academic support services to their students with disabilities, these services, while necessary, are not sufficient to address the needs of these students in a holistic fashion. This article will discuss ways in which the philosophy of rehabilitation counseling can be utilized to assist the DSS office in providing more comprehensive services, with the goal of increasing the students' functioning to the highest level possible in all areas of their lives. Through adherence to this philosophy, the DSS office can become an effective extension of the rehabilitation process to students with disabilities.

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Emong ◽  
Lawrence Eron

Background: Uganda has embraced inclusive education and evidently committed itself to bringing about disability inclusion at every level of education. Both legal and non-legal frameworks have been adopted and arguably are in line with the intent of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on education. The CRPD, in Article 24, requires states to attain a right to education for persons with disabilities without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunities at all levels of education. Objectives: Despite Uganda’s robust disability legal and policy framework on education, there is evidence of exclusion and discrimination of students with disabilities in the higher education institutions. The main objective of this article is to explore the status of disability inclusion in higher education and strategies for its realisation, using evidence from Emong’s study, workshop proceedings where the authors facilitated and additional individual interviews with four students with disabilities by the authors. Results: The results show that there are discrimination and exclusion tendencies in matters related to admissions, access to lectures, assessment and examinations, access to library services, halls of residence and other disability support services. Conclusion: The article recommends that institutional policies and guidelines on support services for students with disabilities and special needs in higher education be developed, data on students with disabilities collected to help planning, collaboration between Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPO’s) strengthened to ensure disability inclusion and the establishment of disability support centres.


Author(s):  
Samantha J. Herrick ◽  
Weili Lu ◽  
Deanna Bullock

This study examined the relationship between acceptance of disability, perceived stigma of students on a college campus and adaptation to college for students with disabilities. One hundred forty-five surveys were collected from student participants via the disability support services offices at sixteen colleges or universities in the northeast and mid-west United States. The results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed two statistically significant relationships, students with a higher level of acceptance of disability were more adapted to college, and higher GPA was associated with less adaptation to college. The exploratory test of mediation revealed that the relationship between acceptance of disability and adaptation to college was significantly mediated by perception of stigma on a college campus. The implications for higher education support services and recommendations for future research are discussed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-113
Author(s):  
Catherine S. Fichten ◽  
Jennison V. Asuncicion ◽  
Maria Barile ◽  
Chantal Robillard ◽  
Myrtis E. Fossey ◽  
...  

Results of a Canada-wide and a Quebec based study of students with a variety of disabilities in Canadian postsecondary education are presented. Study 1 involved 156 professionals. They represent 80% of the population of professionals who provide on-campus disability support services. Results indicate that (1) 8% of postsecondary institutions reported not having any students with disabilities, (2) overall, 2% of students are registered to receive disability related services from their post- secondary institutions, and (3) this varies from 1/2% to 6% across the country. Junior/community colleges had a higher percentage of students with disabilities registered to receive disability related services (3 3/4%) than universities (1 2/3%). (4) Distance education had 3%. (5) Quebec has a smaller proportion of both college (2/3% vs 6%) and university (1/2%) vs 2 1/2%) students with disabilities than the rest of Canada. A targeted study involving 46 professionals who provide disability related services in Quebec's public junior/community colleges, the CEGEPs, revealed that lack of recognition of learning disabilities for postsecondary funding by the Quebec government is an important contributor to the small percentages, although it cannot explain the huge discrepancies between Quebec and the rest of Canada. Extrapolation suggests that there are over 100,000 students with disabilities currently enrolled in Canadian postsecondary education, although only 1/4 to 1/2 of them register to receive disability related services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong-Han Kim ◽  
Hyeyoung Kim ◽  
Dongil Kim

The present study is designed to examine college professors’ perception of classroom disability support services. A survey questionnaire was developed to measure college professors’ perception of three areas including: 1) expanding higher education opportunities for students with disabilities, 2) types of classroom disability support services, and 3) barriers in providing services, and implemented with eighty-two college professors. Overall, results indicate that college professors are permissive in providing disability-related classroom support, although they showed differences in terms of the type and scope of service depending on the nature of the discipline. To improve college disability support service in South Korea, the present study suggests to increase educational opportunities such as booklets, guidelines, and training workshop, specifically designed for college professors who are not familiar with classroom disability support services.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana-Kristin Mah ◽  
Dirk Ifenthaler

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse data on first-year students’ needs regarding academic support services and reasons for their intention to leave the institution prior to degree completion. On the basis of the findings, a digital badge outline is proposed which could contribute to improved communication of academic requirements in order to help students to better adapt to higher education demands. Digital badges might also serve as an indicator for students’ needing additional academic support services. Design/methodology/approach An online-questionnaire was conducted with 730 first-year students at a German university. Participants’ responses to open-ended questions were coded and categorised. On the basis on these findings, an outline for a digital badge programme is proposed. Findings Participants seek the most institutional support regarding research skills and organisational aspects. Main reasons for participants’ intention to withdraw from the institution include difficulties with their programme choice. Practical implications These findings may enable higher education institutions to provide targeted support services that meet first-year students’ needs. On the basis of the findings, higher education institutions can create digital badge programmes, which may improve communication of academic requirements and may also serve as a platform for a staff-student conversation about expectations and demands for a successful first-year experience. Besides, further research and discussion may address using digital badges for learning analytics algorithms to even better identify students’ strengths and needs for targeted academic support services and enhanced student success in higher education. Originality/value Little is known about first-year students’ needs for institutional support and reasons for thinking about dropout in Germany. Understanding the student perspective is crucial for enhancing student retention. Digital badges are an emerging educational technology in higher education and they have the potential to target academic requirements, which may guide first-year students and help them to better adjust to universities’ demands.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-239
Author(s):  
Lawrence W. Judge ◽  
Jeffrey C. Petersen ◽  
James Johnson ◽  
David M. Bellar ◽  
Brianna Leitzelar ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document