Disability Studies Commons^™

Cyberbullying And Mental Health Issues Among University Students, Brandi N. Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

According to the CDC (2024), bullying can lead to social and emotional distress, self-harm, and death. Bullying can also increase the risk for depression, anxiety, and poor academic achievement. The increased use of social media and the rise in cyberbullying (CB) and related mental health concerns among emerging adults is highly disconcerting, especially given their propensity for mental health problems. The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of young university students’ perceptions about CB victimization and whether CB affects their mental health. A cross-sectional research design was used to conduct the study. In this study the number …

Educational Services And Language Congruency In Low-Income Children Who Are Deaf Of Hard-Of-Hearing, Courtney J. Austin, Dylan Chan, Jihyun Stephans

Research Colloquium

Background: Children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) are required by United States law to have access to educational services through the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). However, access to language-congruent providers, as well as supplemental services, varies considerably. Household income is associated with poorer hearing care access and outcomes in DHH children. We predict that access to supplemental, language-congruent DHH services is poorer in DHH children from lower-income homes.

Methods: This is a secondary, ad hoc exploratory study of DHH children aged 0-27 months enrolled in a randomized clinical trial (CT.gov: NCT04928209). Children were enrolled across all …

Job Satisfaction And Vocational Services In Persons With Acquired Brain Injury, Claudia Eliza Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

The incidence of acquired brain injuries continues to rise world-wide resulting in increased disability status and national costs related to these injuries (Ahonle et al., 2020; BIAA, 2024; CDC, 2003; CDC, 2015; CDC, 2023; Grigorovich, et al., 2017; Tyerman et al., 2017). Long-term health effects associated with acquired brain injuries have social and environmental impacts that influence the individual with the injury beyond acute treatment and rehabilitation (Ahonle et al., 2020; CDC, 2023; Frieden et al., 2015; Grigorovich, et al., 2017; Tyerman et al., 2017). This, in turn, affects employment as many individuals with brain injuries are unable to return …

Social Participation And Health-Related Quality Of Life For Adults With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: Capabilities Mediation And Employment Status And Social Security Disability Insurance Moderation, Kayi Ntinda

Theses and Dissertations

Social participation is a key determinant of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs), yet how individuals with NDDs engage socially to support their HRQoL remains poorly understood. Furthermore, the influences of personal capabilities, employment status, and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) as social factors for well-being are underexplored with this population.

This cross-sectional study investigated the direct and indirect effects of social participation on HRQoL, examining capabilities as a mediator and employment status and SSDI receipt as moderators. The study sample comprised 304 adults with NDDs (females = 83.3%; age range 18 to 60 years …

Breast Cancer Survivors’ Readiness-To-Work Perceptions: A Pilot Study, Joy Darlene Cain

Theses and Dissertations

This pilot study explored the perceptions of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and struggles they experienced when returning to work or maintaining employment. It sought to understand the impact of cancer treatment on work demands and how or if that impacted the survivor’s perception of her employment status. This study found significant differences in the RTW perceptions for women with breast cancer in the areas of marital status, physical effort, work strategies, and work-related help. The most significant difference were the differences between women with partners and women without partners. Surprisingly, women without partners, while they do …

Evolving Community Preparedness: Analysis Of United States Pandemic Health Disaster Readiness, Jessy Rugeyo

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown substantial gaps in counties' preparedness and response capacity across the United States. This study analyzes the relationship between county-level pandemic preparedness and confirmed COVID-19 cases using secondary data from the FEMA's National Household Survey (NHS) and county-level COVID-19 data from the CDC. The data show a negative relationship between preparedness levels and COVID-19 positive rates, highlighting the necessity of proactive readiness measures. Individual risk assessment, motivation for preparedness, and socioeconomic variables have a major influence on confirmed cases. Higher levels of education, income, and preparedness are associated with lower positive rates, emphasizing the importance of …

Postsecondary Students With Disabilities: Predictors Of Academic Performance/Gpa, Uzoamaka Barbara Okori

Theses and Dissertations

The determination of people with disabilities to enroll in postsecondary education did not remove the struggles and challenges of adjusting to the college environment despite the provisions of the legislation. Students with disabilities still had problems with degree completion, graduation rates, barriers caused primarily by their unwillingness to disclose their disabilities, and the support networks of these students. This study explores the relationship between the acceptance of disability, self-efficacy, support, and the academic performance/grade point average of postsecondary students with disabilities who receive disability accommodations through their institution’s disability service offices.

Although there has been an increase …

Student Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Collegiate Recovery Programs And Collegiate Recovery Communities, Michael Anthony Herold

Theses and Dissertations

Research on the objective effectiveness of Collegiate Recovery Programs and Collegiate Recovery Communities (CRPs / CRCs) has shown success in maintaining recovery and improving academic outcomes for college students in recovery, but research on the experiences of this population is starting to emerge. This study used a mixed-method design to investigate the perceptions of members of CRPs / CRCs regarding the impact of participation on their recovery from substance abuse and their overall quality of life. Thirty-one participants completed the Drug Avoidance Self-Efficacy Scale (DASES) and the Quality of Life Index – Generic Version iii (QLI). Paired samples t-tests were …

Perspectives Of Interactions With Healthcare Providers Among Patients Who Are Blind, Nazanin M. Heydarian, Allyson S. Hughes, Osvaldo F. Morera, Ashley S. Bangert, Angela H. Frederick

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Healthcare providers’ (HCPs) stereotypes about the incompetence of blind and low-vision patients may lead them to patronize blind patients, over-focus on impairments, and neglect the presenting problem. The content of perceived HCP stereotypes about blind patients in the clinical setting was examined from the patient perspective with seven focus groups, including a total of 42 individual participants. Most participants reported an interaction when their HCPs treated them as if they were incompetent, and discussed how perceived evaluations of their warmth and competence impacted whether their HCPs trusted and respected them. Participants also discussed their evaluations of their HCPs’ warmth and …

Deaf Cultural Capital And Its Conflicts With Hearing Culture: Navigational Successes And Failures, Ashley Greene-Woods, Natalie J. Delgado, Beverly Buchanan, Misty Sides, Abbas Ali Behmanesh, Brian Cheslik, Caroline K. Koo, M. Diane Clark

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications

Despite the creation and implementation of laws intended to support and protect Deaf individuals, stories of limited opportunities and oppression within the workplace still exist and are pervasive. Current research in regard to Deaf individuals’ upward mobility includes a discussion of cultural capital, Imposter Syndrome, and navigational capital. To further understand the experiences of Deaf individuals, the research team conducted a mixed-methods study utilizing surveys and interviews. The results provided insight regarding challenges experienced by the participants in either-or-both their education and employment. The data suggests that the use of navigational capital was the most significant predictor for upward mobility.

L2/Ln Sign Language Tests And Assessment Procedures And Evaluation, Rosemary L. Landa, M. Diane Clark

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications

The purpose of this review is to investigate sign language assessments in use as a tool for evaluating the linguistic abilities for job related requirements for bilingual professionals. Each corresponding sign language assessment will be discussed in terms of its original purpose, content, how it is used today, followed by a discussion of its psychometric properties via strengths and weaknesses. In some cases, when available, a discussion of the background in regards to test development will be given. Psychometrically sound assessments will allow a more consistent evaluation of the professionals who support the Deaf community. In terms of research, having …

Balancing Self-Compassion With Self-Advocacy: A New Approach For Persons With Disabilities Learning To Self-Advocate, Susan Stuntzner, Michael Hartley

Counseling Faculty Publications

Self-advocacy and self-compassion are concepts typically not perceived as related or as skills which hold great value when infused. Learning to self-advocate can be a challenging task for many persons with disabilities. Oftentimes people are not afforded access to information on how to self-advocate. As a result, many people must struggle to figure out if, when, and how to self-advocate. In an effort to change this trend, the present article argues that self-compassion connects self-advocacy and empowerment while also reinforcing an underlying message that individuals do not need to be rescued and are not victims of their environments. Self-advocacy is …

Barriers To Disaster Preparedness Among Medical Special Needs Populations, Leslie Meyer, Kristina Vatcheva, Stephanie Castellanos, Belinda M. Reininger

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

A medical special needs (MSN) assessment was conducted among 3088 respondents in a hurricane prone area. The sample was female (51.7%), Hispanic (92.9%), aged >45 years (51%), not insured for health (59.2%), and with an MSN (33.2%). Barriers to preparedness were characterized for all households, including those with inhabitants reporting MSN ranging from level 0 (mild) to level 4 (most severe). Multivariable logistic regression tested associations between hurricane preparedness and barriers to evacuation by level of MSN. A significant interaction effect between number of evacuation barriers and MSN was found. Among households that reported individuals with level 0 MSN, the …

Women With Disabilities In The Workplace: A Need For Advancement Opportunities, Susan Stuntzner

Counseling Faculty Publications

Women in the workplace is not a new concept, particularly given the fact they constitute about half of the workforce in many countries. Despite their increased presence, women continue to be challenged in their ability to advance within the workplace or, in some instances, acquire solid, well-paying, meaningful positions. Reasons for this are varied. Women continue to find themselves charged with the responsibility of maintaining their home and raising their children while also being a part of the workforce; thus, causing them to consider a non-linear career or employment path. Others may not have been raised or encouraged from a …

Forgiveness: A Vital Skill To Cope With Employment Issues, Susan Stuntzner

Counseling Faculty Publications

Forgiveness is a topic most people probably associate with personal values, spirituality, or religiosity. It may even be considered in relation to living a healthier lifestyle but not in relation to employment concerns or injustices. Despite, its traditional associations and the perspectives most commonly held, forgiveness is a value, a practice, and a way of life that benefits to person who practices it more than the person who committed the offense, hurt, or perceived wrongdoing. Forgiveness is also a skill and a process which can be learned or taught and has value in regards to employment issues and concerns.

Family Resilience Following Disability: Enhancing Counselors’ Skills, Susan Stuntzner, Michael Hartley

Counseling Faculty Publications

Resilience is a relatively new research concept that has yet to receive the attention it needs to be adequately applied to individuals with disabilities and their families. Resilience as an approach, solution, or set of skills has scantly been applied to families dealing with the advent of disability. The information provided is intended to change this trend. Counselors can enhance their work with families living with a disability by understanding ways disability may influence family functioning and how familial coping impacts personal coping and adaptation to disability, as well as utilizing strategies to help families become more resilient following disability.

Resilience: A Pathway To Healthier And Happier Living, Susan Stuntzner

Counseling Faculty Publications

Resilience….What does it mean? How does a person acquire it? What is its relationship to disability, employment, and quality of life? These are some questions people may ponder when they hear it used in conjunction with disability, employment, and healthier living.

While the expectation of being resilient following a traumatic or life changing event is an embedded value within our culture, resilience is not a topic often discussed or readily understood. It is either assumed it will just materialize or it is simply expected. Such beliefs are not necessarily helpful because there are times in all peoples’ lives when situations …

Self-Compassion And Employment Issues Of Persons With Disabilities, Susan Stuntzner

Counseling Faculty Publications

Self-compassion……..What is it? Why is it of value? How does it relate to the employment needs of persons with disabilities? These are just a few of the questions people might have when they hear the term followed by having it associated with employment and persons with disabilities. For starters, self-compassion is not a topic that has been historically discussed openly, correctly understood, or promoted. Instead, the societal message when faced with difficult life events such as disability, unemployment, and lack of resources (i.e., access, education) has been one of “just man up and deal with it.” Self-compassion offers everyone, including …

Investigating Educators’ Views Of Sexuality, Hiv And Aids Education In Working With Students With Disabilities In South African Schools, Julia S. Louw, John Kosciulek, Roy K. Chen

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

The misconception that persons with disabilities are asexual and sexually inactive often relegates teaching sexuality education in special needs schools to a priority of low importance. The access, or lack thereof, to such information causes students lvith disabilities to be at an increased risk of HIV infection; therefore, providing them with sexuality education is imperative. The purpose of the present study was to examine the teachers' and childcare providers' views of teaching sexuality, HIV, and AIDS programs in special needs schools. A survey questionnaire was employed to collect the data. The results showed that among the four major study constructs, …

Disability And The Counseling Relationship: What Counselors Need To Know, Susan Stuntzner, Michael Hartley

Counseling Faculty Publications

Disability is often misunderstood by counseling professionals and society. More often than not, persons without disability perceive it as a negative event and as something undesired, although this is not necessarily the experience or belief of many persons with a disability. Counselors that work with persons with disabilities and their families need to understand the experience and process of disability. Unfortunately, many counseling and psychology programs do not offer extensive training in this area. In an effort to enhance counselors’ understanding and effectiveness when counseling persons with disabilities, the authors provide pertinent and relevant information to help individuals respond successfully …

Self-Compassion And Sexuality: A New Model For Women With Disabilities, Susan Stuntzner

Counseling Faculty Publications

Sexuality and self-compassion are two concepts which have not been previously considered or combined when discussing the needs of women with disabilities. Sexuality, by itself, is a challenging topic for many counselors to address, let alone in combination with the needs of women with disabilities. Additionally, self-compassion is an emerging area which has rarely been applied to the needs of women with disabilities. In an effort to bridge this gap and to improve the sexual adjustment counseling services offered to women with disabilities, barriers which affect sexual adjustment, sexual concerns, and an illustration of ways to infuse sexuality into the …

Resilience, Coping, & Disability: The Development Of A Resilience Intervention, Susan Stuntzner, Michael Hartley

Counseling Faculty Publications

Learning to live with a disability can be a significant transition, and many individuals struggle with the complex challenge of examining how the disability will affect who they are and what their role is in society. Counseling professionals can play a key role in helping individuals address common psychological and social barriers associated with disability. Focused specifically on promoting resilience among individuals with disabilities, the present article provides the rationale for the development of a resilience intervention for counseling professionals to define and better support how individuals transition to living with a disability. Implications address how counseling professionals can use …