Requesting Accommodations to Increase Full Participation in Higher Education: An Analysis of Self-Advocacy Training for Postsecondary Students with Learning and Other Disabilities

Authors

  • G. W. White
  • Yen T. H. Vo

Abstract

Students with learning disabilities and other types of disabilities who attend post-secondary education settings may often require reasonable accommodations to succeed. While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is designed to protect students with disabilities from discrimination,many students are unaware of their rights and how to request accommodations that they are entitled to under the ADA. This paper describes a study of three students: one with a learning disability, one with a physical, and one with a sensory disability. Using a multiple baseline design, a training package was analyzed to determine its effectiveness in teaching students what their rights were under the ADA and how to request accommodations in a post-secondary education setting to meet their academic needs. The results of this investigation showed that there was a marked improvement in both knowledge and acquisition of acconlmodation-requesting skills of each participant. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of this training as students graduate and move into work situations.

Issue

Section

Articles