Evaluating the Environment on a University Campus Toward Students with Learning Disabilities
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom C/D
Start Date
16-5-2013
End Date
16-5-2013
Abstract
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, prohibits discrimination against individuals with physical and/or mental impairment(s)–ensuring equal access to education, employment, and other public accommodations nationwide. Perhaps one implication of the ADA is that college campuses are experiencing increased enrollment rates among individuals with disabilities. The present study was designed to measure undergraduate students’ perceptions of individuals with learning disabilities, as well as their knowledge of the resources available at their university to support said individuals. Male (n = 36) and female (n = 96) respondents responded to forty-three questions pertaining to their own knowledge and attitudes toward individuals with learning disabilities, as well as their perceptions of other students’ attitudes using a Likert scale of 1 to 6 (1 = strongly disagree; 6 = strongly agree). The majority of respondents agreed that someone with a disability could be successful on campus if they received additional support (M = 4.87, SD = 0.81) and disagreed with the statement that individuals with learning disabilities should figure out the college environment on their own (M = 2.64, SD = 1.01). The current findings indicate that undergraduate students, in general, support services for those with learning disabilities and believe themselves and others to be accepting of said students. However, the use of self-report methods suggests the possible influence of social desirability bias among respondents. Further investigations should utilize methods that are independent of self-report, which may yield more accurate assessments of actual perceptions.
Recommended Citation
Jackle, Samantha and Bistricean, Cristina, "Evaluating the Environment on a University Campus Toward Students with Learning Disabilities " (2013). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 47.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2013/posters/47
Poster Number
51
Additional Mentoring Department
Psychology
Evaluating the Environment on a University Campus Toward Students with Learning Disabilities
SURC Ballroom C/D
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, prohibits discrimination against individuals with physical and/or mental impairment(s)–ensuring equal access to education, employment, and other public accommodations nationwide. Perhaps one implication of the ADA is that college campuses are experiencing increased enrollment rates among individuals with disabilities. The present study was designed to measure undergraduate students’ perceptions of individuals with learning disabilities, as well as their knowledge of the resources available at their university to support said individuals. Male (n = 36) and female (n = 96) respondents responded to forty-three questions pertaining to their own knowledge and attitudes toward individuals with learning disabilities, as well as their perceptions of other students’ attitudes using a Likert scale of 1 to 6 (1 = strongly disagree; 6 = strongly agree). The majority of respondents agreed that someone with a disability could be successful on campus if they received additional support (M = 4.87, SD = 0.81) and disagreed with the statement that individuals with learning disabilities should figure out the college environment on their own (M = 2.64, SD = 1.01). The current findings indicate that undergraduate students, in general, support services for those with learning disabilities and believe themselves and others to be accepting of said students. However, the use of self-report methods suggests the possible influence of social desirability bias among respondents. Further investigations should utilize methods that are independent of self-report, which may yield more accurate assessments of actual perceptions.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Kara Gabriel