Retention and Students with Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to identify the factors affecting retention of college students with disabilities, examine the issues related to transition planning from secondary to postsecondary education, and explore the utility of the universal design concept to the retention of students. Further, promising practices will be shared along with implications for practice.

A Review on Higher Education for Hearing-Impaired Individuals

“…faculties facing challenging logical accommodations to provide identical access to course materials and instruction to both disabled and enabled students (Belch, 2000); as required by the law in PowerDeFur and Orelove (1997). However, now since computers are accessible broadly as adaptive function developing devices for physically disabled persons (Bowe, 1984;Vanderheiden, 1982), universities environments are being called upon to provide more adaptive computer interfacing facilities for students who need and can benefit from such equipment.…”

Entry-level student affairs administrators' attitudes toward mental illness in college students.

“…In general, college students with disabilities enroll at lower rates than students without; 63% of high school students with disabilities enter postsecondary education compared to 72% of students without disabilities (Dukes & Shaw, 2004). Other indicators are even less positive, with estimates of only 37% of students with disabilities enrolling in higher education, compared to 78% of students without a disability (Belch, 2004). The likelihood of earning a college degree is decreased by the presence of a disability, such that in 2000, only 12% of the population of persons with a disability had graduated from college (Belch, 2004).…”

“…Other indicators are even less positive, with estimates of only 37% of students with disabilities enrolling in higher education, compared to 78% of students without a disability (Belch, 2004). The likelihood of earning a college degree is decreased by the presence of a disability, such that in 2000, only 12% of the population of persons with a disability had graduated from college (Belch, 2004). Attrition rates in college students with mental illness are significantly greater than students without, but definitive rates can be difficult to quantify.…”

“…Overall, 5% of college students prematurely withdraw due to emotional issues (Kadison & DiGeronimo, 2004). While cocurricular involvement is known to impact learning (Astin, 1984), fewer students with disabilities appear to be involved in extracurricular activities (Belch, 2000;Belch, 2004).…”

“…Little attention has been given to the effectiveness of accommodations for psychiatric disabilities, and more generally, to attitudinal barriers to the ADA (Belch, 2004). In a study…”