Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Unearthing Silence: Deaf Archaeology As A Pathway To Social Justice And Accessibility, Abigail H. Steiner

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Deaf archaeology is an emerging field exploring the material culture, spaces, and histories of Deaf communities to understand their social lives and identities. This paper examines Deaf archaeology as a framework for uncovering the historical presence of Deaf individuals and promoting social justice. It begins by defining deafness, contrasting medical and cultural perspectives, then traces the field’s roots in sign language evolution, marginalization, and Deaf education. Through a timeline of findings, the study reveals how Deaf individuals have been recognized or overlooked historically. Engaging with the Southern Tier Deaf community, I explore accessible archaeology and the role of Deaf archaeology …

Exceptionality Project: Other Health Impairments, Brayden Pruett

2025 Student Academic Showcase

This project examines Other Health Impairments (OHI) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and their impact on students' educational experiences. OHI includes chronic and acute health conditions like ADHD, epilepsy, diabetes, and asthma, which can limit a student's strength or alertness. The project aims to analyze the challenges faced by students with OHI and identify effective educational accommodations and interventions. It examines the role of 504 Plans and IEPs in ensuring equitable access to education, and emphasizes the importance of medical management, assistive technology, and advocacy. Key accomplishments include compiling best practices for educators, providing policy improvements, and …

Cartoons From The 2000s: The Representation Of Disability And A Culture Of Inclusion, Alessia Rosa, Claudia Chellini

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Representations of diversity and otherness in cartoons offer metaphors for identity that can affect children’s perceptions and attitudes towards the potential and challenges associated with various forms of disability. This contribution analyses a corpus of animations made up of feature films, series, and short films with a focus on how disability is represented. It examines the role that characters with physical or mental disabilities play in the story, the structure of narratives in which disability is presented as an integral part of reality, and the types of disability explored in the stories. The image that emerges is one in which …

Disarming The Deficit: Creating A Positive Disabled Community On Campus, Grace E. Vanhaitsma

Masters Projects

In the United States, the number of individuals with disabilities who pursue a college degree has increased. According to Wagner et al. (2018), 26% of people with disabilities pursued postsecondary education, whether at a two-year (20%) or four-year program (6%). Retention of students with disabilities, however, remains an issue. 41% of all college students with disabilities left school before graduation compared to 33% of their typically abled peers. Disabled students are also more likely to struggle with loneliness and isolation on campus due to a lack of sense of belonging. Having a strong campus community leads to better retention and …

Accessibility Care Beyond The University Disability Office, Mae L. Zurita

Masters Projects

When higher education institutions rely on a single office to provide primarily in-class accommodations for students with diagnosed disabilities, practitioners beyond this office receive little guidance on supporting the broader disabled community in daily practices. By critiquing the dominant models, theories, interventions, and solutions that create an ambiguous responsibility for how practitioners are to include and accommodate disabled people the project can outline alternative methods. A culture of ableism and rampant inaccessibility is innate to how North American higher education operates as an institutional practice. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is treated like a successful initiative that guarantees …

What Factors Impact Teachers’ Beliefs About The Likelihood To Which Their Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities Can Live On Campus, Jonathan Lidgus

Dissertations

After the Higher Education Opportunity Act was passed in 2008, inclusive postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disability (ID) have grown on campuses across the United States. These programs were designed to eliminate barriers that prevent students with intellectual disability from attending college in order to achieve positive employment outcomes and skills to increase independent living. While programs may be designed for those with intellectual disability, individuals may have multiple diagnoses, including intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The relationship between a student and their secondary teachers can positively impact their future or present a barrier. Using the data from the …

Empowering Mississippi Schools: Training Staff And Students For Effective Integration Of Service Animals In K-6 Education., Micah C. Brouillette

Honors Theses

The purpose of this capstone is to explore the role of service animals in schools and to develop foundational training modules for educators and school staff. The presence of service animals in educational settings is a growing reality, yet many schools lack clear policies and staff training on how to effectively integrate them. This capstone reviews the legal protections surrounding service animals, including federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as Mississippi-specific regulations. It examines the benefits of service animals for students with disabilities, including their impact …

The Causes And Effects Of Procuring A Culturally Relevant And Sustaining Educational Pedagogy, Lauren Mcneil

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This study investigates the causes and effects of educators adopting a Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education (CR-SE) pedagogy within our educational system. Three qualitative data collection and analysis pathways are used: thirteen participants are surveyed and interviewed, a policy analysis occurs, and an autoethnographic journal is analyzed. This research explores how cultural conflicts, deficit mindsets, and at-risk labeling contribute to systemic inequities, leading to social suffering for both students and educators. The research examines how educators who develop a critical consciousness navigate these challenges, often experiencing moral injury as they advocate for equitable educational practices. Through qualitative inquiry, this study …

An Evaluation Of Pregnant And Parenting Student Accommodations On Bowling Green State University's Campus, Taylor Reinhart

Honors Projects

Pregnant and parenting students face many obstacles on a daily basis. These students balance responsibilities including classes, homework, parenting, and more, so what are universities doing to improve accessibility for this population? The purpose of this project was to evaluate accommodations in place by Bowling Green State University (BGSU) to support pregnant and parenting students. In this study, I first compiled research about what types of accommodations pregnant and parenting students require on a college campus. Next, I reviewed BGSU's accommodation policies and compared them to those of other institutions in order to evaluate the accessibility of BGSU's campus. Finally, …

Intersectional Experiences Of Stem Students With Disabilities, Sandy Heath, Jade Metzger, Tarah Loy-Ashe

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities experience barriers to accessing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers during academic preparation for these careers. This pilot project explored the experiences of postsecondary STEM students who have a disability. The six students interviewed gave their insights into the need to further diversify who has access to STEM careers by describing that cultural and structural barriers posed more of a barrier than the course content during their STEM education. Academic preparation often starts in early childhood education with exposure to STEM topics and continues through postsecondary education. The implications impact both the individual student and society. …

Qualitative Findings From A Pilot Study Of A Single Session Digital Mental Health Intervention For Adults With A Recent Dementia Diagnosis, Sharon Benson, Shanna Peterson, Lindy Strand

Student Research Symposium

Dementia and Mental Health

• A dementia diagnosis significantly impacts life, leading to higher rates of mental health issues like depression and anxiety (Leung, 2021), and reducing well-being and quality of life (Martyr , 2018).

• Most Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions for individuals with dementia (IwD) are designed for in-person completion and typically range from 6 to 50 sessions. The length and extensive resource requirements can pose barriers for IwD.

• Digital, online interventions can address these barriers.

Accuracy Of An Automated Approach To Auditory Brainstem Response Analysis, Katelyn J. Chapman, Jarrod J. Mau, Marlana J. Petersen, Kyler J. Vugteveen, Will J. Allen

Student Research Symposium

• Hearing loss affects 1.5 billion people worldwide [1]
• Hearing loss is primarily diagnosed through pure-tone audiometry
• Pure-tone audiometry is not sensitive to many disorders, especially neural disorders that cause hearing difficulty
• Pure-tone audiometry cannot identify site-of-lesion

Creating A Highly Effective College Transition Guide: For Secondary School Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Trevor J. Sparacio

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This dissertation examines the secondary-to-postsecondary transition experiences of autistic youth and develops The Sparacio Transition Guide, a comprehensive, research-informed tool designed to improve college and career outcomes for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Framed by ecological systems theory, the social model of disability, Universal Design for Learning, and person-centered planning, the study investigates strategies, supports, and program components that promote successful movement from high school to higher education and employment. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, the researcher conducted in-depth, semi-structured Zoom interviews with eight accomplished autistic adults who completed postsecondary education and achieved career success, then employed thematic analysis, …

65 - Evaluating Drone-Based Stem Camps For Enhanced Engagement And Sel Development, David Morgan

Undergraduate Research Symposium

STEM camps are programs designed to promote exposure to learning associated with science, technology, engineering, and math educational outcomes. However, there is a significant gap in participation for Black and Brown individuals in STEM careers. This study seeks to understand how STEM programs during out-of-school time may support students from underrepresented communities and foster future interest in STEM-related careers. This study employs a retrospective qualitative research design investigating program participation in a week-long STEM camp in Hampton, Virginia. Thirty middle and high school students participated in the curriculum, technical drone skills, emphasizing emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and social awareness. These findings …

Addressing Significant Disproportionality In Special Education, Lori L. Ginn-O'Keefe

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Lori L. Ginn-O’Keefe on April 2, 2025.

Addressing Significant Disproportionality In Special Education, Margretta G. Cottle-Hylton, Lori L. Ginn-O'Keefe

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Margretta G. Cottle Hylton and Lori L. Ginn-O’Keefe Garrison on April 2, 2025.

Access To Augustana’S Ascension Chapel: Who Gets To Worship?, Jaycee C. Bythewood

Race, Ethnicity, & Religion

This poster seeks to educate readers about the challenges disabled students would face in attending a service in Augustana College’s Ascension Chapel and how inaccessible this actually is using maps crafted by the author with hand-gathered data.

“Like A Fish Being Judged By My Ability To Fly”: Barriers To Accessibility In Postgraduate Study, Molly E. Thompson

Publications and Research

This research paper explores the unique accessibility challenges faced by disabled postgraduate students and what can be done to address them. Testimonies and formal studies alike show how disabled graduate students have to deal with stigmatizing attitudes from their instructors (especially if they hold intersectional marginalized identities) on top of systemic barriers such as strict deadlines, unsustainably heavy workloads, inaccessible travel requirements, and disability services that are not suited to undergraduate needs. These problems are especially prominent in medical school where demands on time and energy are especially rigorous. To address these issues, disability service programs must be reformed to …

Opening Access To Advanced Placement English, Tabitha J. Evans

Dissertations

The goal of this study was to examine the growth trend in enrollment into AP over Honors English courses in secondary students across six high schools in the same school district over the past eight years and to determine how that enrollment impacted exam performance. Both a student survey and district demographic and exam performance data was pulled across the six high schools for all AP English Language and Composition (AP Language) and AP English Literature and Composition (AP Literature) courses over the course of time under study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze trends in enrollment growth, AP scores, …

Optimizing Sensory Processing: General Education Classroom Strategies, Elizabeth Lowry

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

Introduction

In the general education setting, teachers often feel unequipped to address sensory processing deficits. There is little research in the general education setting within this area, but implementing sensory strategies can be beneficial for all students. The purpose of this capstone project is to support sensory processing behaviors within the elementary education setting.

Methods

General education classroom teachers/staff within Pembroke Elementary School (Public Schools of Robeson County, North Carolina) participated in an educational in-service that took place in February 2025. During this time, an 11-field RedCap survey was developed and a pre-survey/post-survey was provided to the participants to gauge …