Postsecondary Education for Individuals With Disabilities

Abstract

Participation of students with disabilities in postsecondary education has been increasing steadily in the past two decades. Many of these students need reasonable accommodations and other assistance in order to stay enrolled and graduate with a degree. However, recent studies indicate that faculty in higher education have little knowledge about legislative mandates regarding their obligation in serving students with disabilities. When faculty members are ignorant of the legislative mandates pertaining to students with disabilities, accessibility to learning may be compromised. Lack of disability legislative knowledge may also lead to a failure to provide reasonable accommodations and may ultimately result in litigation. This article provides an overview of legislative mandates, examines relevant litigation, and discusses practice considerations regarding the participation of students with disabilities in postsecondary settings.