The Negative Impact of Racial Microaggressions on College Students of Color

The goal of this chapter is to describe the adverse impact of racial microaggressions on college students, particularly as it pertains to their decreased self-esteem and academic achievement. It will also provide insight on specific forms of microaggressions and how they may be perceived by various targeted groups. Although this chapter focuses on the impact of microaggressions on college students of color, the adverse effects on college students with disabilities, LGBTQ students, and students with physical and mental disabilities are to be noted as equally detrimental. Finally, this chapter will include implications to deconstruct racial microaggressions and provide insight on how educators and administrators may disarm racial microaggressions in the classroom and on college campuses in general.

Accessibility, Self-Advocacy, and Self-Efficacy of Students With Disabilities in the 21st Century University

Few studies have addressed the challenging transition that occurs when students with disabilities graduate from the K-12 system and enter the world of higher education. Once in college, students with disabilities no longer have, among other federally-mandated supports, a child-study team to represent them, and thus must develop strong self-advocacy and self-efficacy skills in order to receive the accommodations and modifications they need to succeed academically. This chapter discusses the issues facing students with disabilities during this transition, details the services and support offered by colleges to guide students with disabilities, and shares recommended best practices for instructional strategies higher education can employ to ensure that these students flourish in the classroom and as self-assured, independent adults in society.

Can I Afford To Be On Campus?: Do College Students with Disabilities Understand COVID-19 Vaccination Costs?

Institutions of higher education have mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for students wishing to return to an on-campus, in-person learning experience. However, college students with disabilities (SWDs) may be hesitant to take a COVID-19 vaccine for a variety of reasons, possibly delaying or denying students access to higher education. Yet, an under-researched aspect of COVID-19 vaccinations and related communication is whether college students with disabilities understand that the COVID-19 vaccine is free and whether that understanding varies by intersectional identities. As a result, the research team surveyed 245 college students with disabilities to explore student knowledge of vaccine costs and whether differences exist between groups. Data suggests many college students with disabilities do not know that COVID-19 vaccinations are free: White/Caucasian SWDs were most aware of COVID-19 vaccines being free (23.6%), while Latinx students were least aware (1.3%). Moreover, women were more aware of free COVID-19 vaccines (14.8%) than men (11.4%), first generation college students were more aware (15.6%) than non-first generation college students (12.2%), and full-time students (19%) were more aware than part-time students (8.9%). Overall, less than 25% of SWDs understood that COVID-19 vaccines are free. Implications for health communication, vaccine awareness, and higher education policy are addressed.

How Do College Students with Disabilities Feel About Taking COVID-19 Vaccines?

This survey explores attitudes of 245 currently enrolled college students with disabilities regarding their comfort taking a COVID-19 vaccine. Results suggest most college students with disabilities are willing to take a COVID-19 vaccine if their institution requires it to return to campus in subsequent semesters. However, many students with disabilities would not feel comfortable with a vaccine mandate mid-semester and would consider withdrawing, especially among older students with disabilities and first-generation college students with disabilities. Implications for postsecondary policy and leadership are addressed.

Are students with disabilities ready for college? The influence of college readiness to college engagement

Inclusive education is seen as promising way to accommodate students with disabilities in accessing higher education; yet, the implementation leaves challenges for the students with disabilities and also the faculties. Regarding the secondary education curriculum that is not preparing students with disabilities to attend higher education, students with disabilities are struggling in adjusting college life. This research aimed at confirming the influence of college readiness to college engagement of students with disabilities. There were 61 college students with disabilities participated in the survey on college readiness and college engagement. Independent T-Test and simple regression analysis was applied to test the hypothesis. The result showed that the college readiness influence college engagement with large effect size (r=.769>0.50, F=85.494, p (.000) <0.01) which indicates that the more students are college-ready, the more they are engaged. Subsection’s variables of gender and education background do not statistically significant affect the college readiness and engagement of students with disabilities. As the opportunity for students with disabilities attending college is uprising, college transition program is highly suggested to prepare students with disability for college life.