Post-Secondary Education Post-Secondary Education for Graduate Students with for Graduate Students with DisabilitiesDisabilities Focus GroupFocus Group

Kari Smith, MSW, MAKari Smith, MSW, MAJuly 10, 2008July 10, 2008

K. SmithK. Smith

Institute on Disability and Institute on Disability and Human DevelopmentHuman Development

IDHDIDHD

“The Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD), a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD) is dedicated to promoting the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society.”

Source: www.idhd.org

K. SmithK. Smith

Institute on Disability and Institute on Disability and Human DevelopmentHuman Development

IDHDIDHD““The values of The values of cultural cultural diversity, diversity, consumer choice consumer choice and self-and self-determination are determination are emphasized across emphasized across the life span in the life span in all training, all training, public service, public service, and research and research activities of the activities of the Institute.”Institute.”

Source: www.idhd.org

K. SmithK. Smith

Institute on Disability and Institute on Disability and Human DevelopmentHuman Development

(IDHD)(IDHD)

IDHD accomplishes the mission through IDHD accomplishes the mission through the following activities:the following activities:

ResearchResearch

Dissemination of informationDissemination of information

Clinical & Community ServiceClinical & Community Service

Interdisciplinary Pre-Service TrainingInterdisciplinary Pre-Service Training

Adapted from: www.idhd.org

K. SmithK. Smith

Post –Secondary Post –Secondary Supports/Accommodations to Supports/Accommodations to

Graduate StudentsGraduate Students  Some students are unaware that they are Some students are unaware that they are entitled to accommodations under Section 504 entitled to accommodations under Section 504 and some are afraid to ask professors for and some are afraid to ask professors for accommodations due to fears of being accommodations due to fears of being stigmatized for having a disability stigmatized for having a disability (Dowrick, et al., 2005; West, et al., 1993). (Dowrick, et al., 2005; West, et al., 1993).

   There appears to be a gap in the research There appears to be a gap in the research literature in regards to the experiences of literature in regards to the experiences of graduate students with disabilities at the graduate students with disabilities at the university level (Dowrick, et al., 2005; university level (Dowrick, et al., 2005; West, et al., 1993). West, et al., 1993).

K. SmithK. Smith

The Project OutlineThe Project OutlineIdeaIdea

Review Research Review Research LiteratureLiterature

IRB ApplicationIRB Application

Focus GroupFocus Group

Data & AnalysisData & Analysis

IRB app.

Data & Analysis

Idea

Focus Grp.

K. SmithK. Smith

Focus GroupFocus Group Consisted of Approx. 10 structured Consisted of Approx. 10 structured

QuestionsQuestions

Held on Monday, July 28, 2008. Held on Monday, July 28, 2008. Facilitated by the intern (Kari Smith), Facilitated by the intern (Kari Smith), Associate Director of IDHD (Mary Kay Associate Director of IDHD (Mary Kay Rizzolo), and Director of the Great Rizzolo), and Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center (Robin Jones).Lakes ADA Center (Robin Jones).

4 graduate students with disabilities 4 graduate students with disabilities participated. participated.

K. SmithK. Smith

Sample Focus Group Discussion Sample Focus Group Discussion QuestionsQuestions

How is your experience with graduate How is your experience with graduate school different from your experience school different from your experience in undergraduate education regarding in undergraduate education regarding seeking accommodations for your seeking accommodations for your disability?disability?

Probes: If your accommodation needs in Probes: If your accommodation needs in graduate school differ from your graduate school differ from your undergraduate needs, please describe undergraduate needs, please describe some examples of how your needs differ. some examples of how your needs differ.

K. SmithK. Smith

Sample Focus Group Discussion Sample Focus Group Discussion QuestionsQuestions

What specific roles do you envision What specific roles do you envision a mentor playing?a mentor playing?

Probes: Would you utilize a Probes: Would you utilize a mentor if onementor if one

were available to you?were available to you?

What advice would you share with What advice would you share with graduate students with disabilities graduate students with disabilities who are new to the university? In who are new to the university? In other words, what are the things new other words, what are the things new students with disabilities need to students with disabilities need to know that no one tells them? know that no one tells them?

K. SmithK. Smith

DataData

3 Themes Emerged:3 Themes Emerged:

1-Accommodations1-Accommodations

2-Barriers2-Barriers

3-Recommendations/Needs3-Recommendations/Needs

K. SmithK. Smith

DataDataAccommodations:Accommodations:

7 topics under accommodations were discussed 7 topics under accommodations were discussed including types of accommodations, workload, including types of accommodations, workload, the process in obtaining accommodations, and the process in obtaining accommodations, and positive aspects of supports received.positive aspects of supports received.

Barriers:Barriers:

9 topics were discussed including University 9 topics were discussed including University barriers, educational barriers, accessing barriers, educational barriers, accessing information, and the Disability Resource information, and the Disability Resource Center.Center.

DataData Recommendations/Needs:Recommendations/Needs:

Recommendations/needs included Recommendations/needs included advocacy for students with advocacy for students with disabilities, community information, disabilities, community information, expanded university housing options, expanded university housing options, orientation to the university, and a orientation to the university, and a peer mentoring program for graduate peer mentoring program for graduate students with disabilities.students with disabilities.

K. SmithK. Smith

Implications/ImpactImplications/ImpactDepartments/CommunityDepartments/Community

The intern assisted in:The intern assisted in:

identifying barriers for graduate students identifying barriers for graduate students with disabilitieswith disabilities

developing recommendations for the Dept. developing recommendations for the Dept. on Disability Studies and the Disability on Disability Studies and the Disability Resource Center to address barriersResource Center to address barriers

researching information for a pilot researching information for a pilot mentoring for graduate students with mentoring for graduate students with disabilitiesdisabilities

Hopefully, UIC will progress towards Hopefully, UIC will progress towards becoming a universally accessible campusbecoming a universally accessible campus

K. SmithK. Smith

Implications/ImpactImplications/ImpactParticipantsParticipants

Participants enjoyed the opportunity Participants enjoyed the opportunity to share their thoughts in a safe to share their thoughts in a safe environmentenvironment

The discussion was rather candidThe discussion was rather candid

Able to share stories and outcomes Able to share stories and outcomes

K. SmithK. Smith

Implications/ImpactImplications/ImpactSelfSelf

Opportunity to complete an IRB proposalOpportunity to complete an IRB proposal

Opportunity to facilitate a focus groupOpportunity to facilitate a focus group

Opportunity to analyze focus group dataOpportunity to analyze focus group data

Understanding of the needs of graduate Understanding of the needs of graduate students with disabilitiesstudents with disabilities

K. SmithK. Smith

References/SourcesReferences/Sources

IDHD website:www.idhd.org

A list of references is available upon request.