Faculty Perspectives on the Appeal and Impact of Including College Students With Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Supporting the academic engagement of students with intellectual disability is a central focus of the inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) movement. In this study, we used focus group interviews to explore the views of 23 university faculty involved in teaching college students with intellectual disability in traditional courses. We asked faculty about their motivations for offering inclusive courses, how they were affected by the experience, and how they perceived classmates were impacted. Faculty discussed a range of factors that drew them to this inclusive teaching experience and highlighted multiple ways in which they and their students were positively impacted by the enrollment of students with intellectual disability. We offer recommendations for research and practice aimed at expanding and strengthening the academic experiences of college students with intellectual disability within IPSE programs.