Graduation Year

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Language, Literacy, ED.D., Exceptional Education, and Physical Education

Major Professor

Ann Cranston-Gingras, Ph.D.

Co-Major Professor

Robert Dedrick, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Eunsook Kim, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Brenda Walker, Ph.D.

Keywords

Control Beliefs, Self-Advocacy, Self-Efficacy, Interaction Quality

Abstract

College students with disabilities often face challenges including difficulty accessing accommodations and developing satisfactory rapport with instructors when navigating their college experience. These challenges can negatively impact their academic progress and their ability to complete their programs of study. The first purpose of this study was to describe the levels of self-efficacy, perceived control, willingness to request accommodations, instructor- student rapport, and adequate progress towards a degree among college students with disabilities. The second purpose was to determine any relationships between these variables. Undergraduate students with disabilities at a public university in the southeast region of the United States completed an online questionnaire. Results were based on a sample of 120 undergraduate students with disabilities. The most common disabilities reported by these students included Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (n=37), Attention Deficit Disorder (n=27), Emotional/Behavioral Disorder (n=37), and psychological disorders (n=35). Results from a descriptive analysis indicated high levels of self-efficacy, a strong willingness to request accommodations, positive experiences during class meetings, and evidence of rapport between students and instructors. Results also indicated that 98 participants made adequate progress while 22 did not. Results from a logistic regression found no statistically significant relationships between self-efficacy, perceived control, accommodations, rapport variables and adequate academic progress. Although no relationships were found, these results provided insight into the experiences and support needs of college students with disabilities within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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