Higher Education's Next Great Challenge: Ensuring Full Inclusion for Students with Disabilities

Disability-diversity on college campuses is no longer optional--it is an expectation. Students entering college today have grown up with the ADA and they have witnessed inclusion and mainstreaming of students with disabilities their entire lives. The most powerful barriers to full inclusion include stigmas about students with disabilities, negatives attitudes, technology barriers, and lack of understanding among campus administrators, faculty, and staff. Becoming an inclusive community takes work at all levels--from the top administration and Board of Trustees, to faculty and staff, to students. This new guide outlines specific actions that all institutions can take to create an inclusive environment for students whether in-person or online. Encouraging a more diverse student and alumni population benefits the entire learning establishment while preparing all students for a future workforce that is fully inclusive.