Creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities: Findings from participatory action research
The goal of this participatory action research (PAR) project was to engage and empower students with disabilities and raise awareness of disability-related issues to campus communities. Ten student co-researchers and six faculty/staff co-researchers attended weekly research meetings to discuss chall...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Ohio State University Libraries
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Disability Studies Quarterly |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://dsq-sds.org/article/view/7094 |
| _version_ | 1818838435542073344 |
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| author | Melissa Bessaha Rebecca Reed Amanda J. Donlon Wendi Mathews Alissa C. Bell Danielle Merolla |
| author_facet | Melissa Bessaha Rebecca Reed Amanda J. Donlon Wendi Mathews Alissa C. Bell Danielle Merolla |
| author_sort | Melissa Bessaha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The goal of this participatory action research (PAR) project was to engage and empower students with disabilities and raise awareness of disability-related issues to campus communities. Ten student co-researchers and six faculty/staff co-researchers attended weekly research meetings to discuss challenges faced by students with disabilities. The team presented PAR findings to the campus community as their action project. Twelve themes generated by the co-researchers were presented and illuminated lived experiences of students with disabilities within university settings. Themes included the physical university layout and internal experiences such as internalized stigma and isolation from peers. Results of the PAR project as well as a focus group post-PAR project describe individual and systemic outcomes. This study demonstrates the power of incorporating students' voices in creating university programming initiatives that not only supports their academic success but also allows students to feel heard and supported. Success in increasing campus inclusion requires a collaboration among key university gatekeepers and students particularly in support of students who may not have visible disabilities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:38:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3a584ee683474b3b87b857b61236d23a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1041-5718 2159-8371 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:38:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | The Ohio State University Libraries |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Disability Studies Quarterly |
| spelling | doaj.art-3a584ee683474b3b87b857b61236d23a2022-12-21T20:37:18ZengThe Ohio State University LibrariesDisability Studies Quarterly1041-57182159-83712020-09-0140310.18061/dsq.v40i3.70944541Creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities: Findings from participatory action researchMelissa Bessaha0Rebecca ReedAmanda J. Donlon1Wendi Mathews2Alissa C. Bell3Danielle Merolla4Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook UniversityStony Brook UniversityStony Brook UniversityStony Brook UniversityThe goal of this participatory action research (PAR) project was to engage and empower students with disabilities and raise awareness of disability-related issues to campus communities. Ten student co-researchers and six faculty/staff co-researchers attended weekly research meetings to discuss challenges faced by students with disabilities. The team presented PAR findings to the campus community as their action project. Twelve themes generated by the co-researchers were presented and illuminated lived experiences of students with disabilities within university settings. Themes included the physical university layout and internal experiences such as internalized stigma and isolation from peers. Results of the PAR project as well as a focus group post-PAR project describe individual and systemic outcomes. This study demonstrates the power of incorporating students' voices in creating university programming initiatives that not only supports their academic success but also allows students to feel heard and supported. Success in increasing campus inclusion requires a collaboration among key university gatekeepers and students particularly in support of students who may not have visible disabilities.https://dsq-sds.org/article/view/7094students with disabilitiesparticipatory action researchinclusivecampus environmentdisability |
| spellingShingle | Melissa Bessaha Rebecca Reed Amanda J. Donlon Wendi Mathews Alissa C. Bell Danielle Merolla Creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities: Findings from participatory action research Disability Studies Quarterly students with disabilities participatory action research inclusive campus environment disability |
| title | Creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities: Findings from participatory action research |
| title_full | Creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities: Findings from participatory action research |
| title_fullStr | Creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities: Findings from participatory action research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities: Findings from participatory action research |
| title_short | Creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities: Findings from participatory action research |
| title_sort | creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities findings from participatory action research |
| topic | students with disabilities participatory action research inclusive campus environment disability |
| url | https://dsq-sds.org/article/view/7094 |
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