Poster Session

Development and Facilitation of an On-Campus Disability Awareness Campaign

Development and Facilitation of an On-Campus Disability Awareness Campaign

Adena Rottenstein & Ryan Dougherty - University of Michigan

Historically, students with disabilities (SWDs) have been excluded from the realm of higher education (Konur, 2006). Fortunately, the population of SWDs is steadily increasing. The latest data estimates that approximately 11% of college students have some type of disability (Horn & Nevill, 2006). Unfortunately, SWDs have a disproportionally high dropout rate (84%) when compared with their non-disabled peers (Horn & Berktold, 1999). One commonly cited reason for this disparity is the frequent prejudice and discrimination SWDs face when interacting with peers, educators, and university staff (Dowrick, Anderson, Heyer, & Acosta, 2005). It is imperative therefore, that Universities take steps to enhance the campus and community environment to ensure the personal well-being and academic success of students with disabilities. One way to create a more disability-friendly campus environment is to build a more visible, more active community of students with disabilities.

Author(s)

Adena Rottenstein & Ryan Dougherty, University of Michigan

Adena Rottenstein & Ryan Dougherty, University of Michigan