Location
Room 120
Start Date
28-2-2025 12:20 PM
End Date
28-2-2025 1:00 PM
First Presenter's Brief Biography
Laura Echezabal is a post baccalaureate student attending Georgia Southern University for a Bachelor’s in Chemistry. She holds a Bachelor’s in Business Management and Psychology from Bryant University. Laura conducts research in Medicinal Organic Synthesis of anti-cancer therapeutics with Dr. Karelle Aiken, as well as Disability Education research with Dr. Karin Fisher. Her higher education goals include a PhD in Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry, and to continue being a representative of students with disabilities in higher education.
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Presentation Type
Concurrent Session
N/A
Abstract
The number of students with disabilities (SWD) attending college has increased, but they have lower graduation rates in comparison to students without disabilities. Our research aims to determine the experiences of college SWD at GSU, and to link this data with interventions to aid SWD transitioning to higher education.
Conference Strands
Effective Teaching Strategies for Students with Disabilities
Description
The number of students with disabilities (SWD) attending college has increased, but they continue to have lower graduation rates in comparison to their peers without disabilities. Our research aims to determine the experiences of college SWD at Georgia Southern University using a mixed methods approach, and to link this data with approaches for high school teachers to aid SWD in the transition to higher education. Higher education options in Georgia include nine Inclusive Post Secondary Education (IPSE), Certificate Seeking, and Degree Seeking programs.Georgia Southern SWD and faculty were surveyed, focus group interviews were conducted using convenience sampling. Included are faculty experiences teaching SWD, as well as desired professional development to address the needs of these students. From a student perspective, we found that many found it difficult to navigate the accommodations process and communicate with their professors. Educators described not having enough training on how to accommodate students, and there was a lack of communication between faculty and the student accessibility resource center. Our study aims to provide recommendations to students, faculty, and administrators to increase accessibility and graduation rates for students with disabilities. Georgia Southern’s Student Accessibility Resource Center (SARC) has recommendations for high school SWD that would like to enter the post secondary education space. In Junior year, students should ensure they have an updated medical evaluation, understand the differences between various post secondary education options, and explore transition summer programs. By senior year, students should apply for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and FASFA, compile all necessary accommodation documents, and outreach University SWD Centers to discuss services. Another important barrier SWD had when entering college, is that 52% did not receive high school accommodations, so they were unaware they could access accommodations in college. Our presentation will present our findings in our mixed methods study, and recommendations to bridge the transition between high school and post secondary education for students with disabilities.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Included in
Supporting the Needs of High School Students with Disabilities Transitioning to College
Room 120
The number of students with disabilities (SWD) attending college has increased, but they have lower graduation rates in comparison to students without disabilities. Our research aims to determine the experiences of college SWD at GSU, and to link this data with interventions to aid SWD transitioning to higher education.
