A Review of the Biennial AHEAD Surveys: Trends and Changes in the Demographics and Work of Disability Resource Professionals

The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) has conducted biennial surveys of postsecondary disability resource professionals since 2008. The day-to-day work of disability resource offices on college campuses has undergone significant changes in this time period, potentially requiring new technical skills, expanded content knowledge, and increasingly complex professional judgement. Has this evolving work been accompanied by a change in the demographic characteristics and backgrounds of professional staff who lead higher education disability resource offices? This study examined the outcomes of the biennial AHEAD surveys to address this question and identify trends and changes in the responses over time. Using AHEAD surveys and reports, items pertaining to (a) demographic characteristics, (b) education and professional background, (c) job structure, and (d) earning and compensation were compared across each year of survey administration. Findings reflect a field that appears to be growing and maturing, as seen through the changing lens of the survey's sampling methodology. There are increasing numbers of full-time staff supported by permanent institutional funds. Changes in functional job roles reflect a shift to increased focus on campus access. The lack of diversity in racial, ethnic, and gender identity; changes in the discourse on disability identity; the importance of updated professional standards; and the promotion of opportunities for scholarly practice are discussed.