Community College Success of Students with Disabilities

<p>The purpose of this study was to identify aspects of home life, college life, or high school preparation that supported the success of students with disabilities at community colleges. As students with disabilities are rarely represented in the literature, this study offered a space for students with disabilities to share their voice and further develop their sense of agency. The six participants had a range of disabilities and enrolled in Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) at their community college. They had all completed at least one year and three students were completing their final year and had plans in place to transfer to a 4-year university the following school year. Each participant engaged in two individual interviews and a series of three focus groups. The focus groups used photovoice to highlight aspects of student lives that lead to their success in community college. Participants identified engagement with learning, health and wellness, self-reliance, trusting relationships, and diversity and inclusion as factors that contributed to their success. All participants mentioned stress or anxiety impacted their success. A large portion of the photos participants took centered around ways to reduce stress or anxiety or ways to maintain focus and engagement in class, particularly when feeling stressed or anxious. The students identified a list of recommendations they wanted to share with colleges to create greater access and support future students with disabilities. Implications and areas of future research are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Year

2021

Author dc:creator

• Brophy-Felbab, Shayne

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dawn Hunter, PhD
• Margaret Grogan, PhD
• Meredith Dorner, PhD

• Community Colleges of California
• Students with Disabilities
• Success
• Transition
• Photovoice
• Student Voice
• Disability and Equity in Education
• Higher Education
• Special Education and Teaching

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/education_dissertations/26

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.chapman.edu:education_dissertations-1025