"It's a Constant Fight:" Experiences of College Students with Disabilities

Despite the increase in students with disabilities attending college, the graduation rates of these students consistently lag behind their peers without disabilities. Although services provided by college disability service offices are designed to prevent discrimination and support student success, a limited body of research documents the effectiveness of services delivered to students with disabilities in college. Further, little is known about the perspectives of students with disabilities in the U.S., including in-depth qualitative research among diverse students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of eight college students with disabilities. Participants described disempowering experiences, empowering experiences, reported information about the impact of their families, and provided recommendations for stakeholders to better support individuals with disabilities. Implications for practice and future research are reported.