Availing Reasonable Accommodations for College Students with Psychiatric Disabilities: Findings from a Qualitative Study

• Published in: Rehabilitation research, policy, and education Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 275 - 283
• Main Authors: Corrigan, Patrick, Sheehan, Lindsay, Nieweglowski, Katherine, Qin, Sang, Walley, Gary, Winbush, Kellye
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Publishing Company 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Academic Accommodations (Disabilities); Attitudes toward Disabilities; Barriers; College Students; Housing Needs; Mental Disorders; Private Colleges; Self Disclosure (Individuals); Student Attitudes; Student Needs; Students with Disabilities; Teacher Attitudes
• ISSN: 2168-6653
• DOI: 10.1891/RE-19-26

Purpose: As many as half of all college students meet DSM-5 criteria for a mental illness; less than 5% report the ability to successfully navigate and complete their degrees. This is in part due to the lack of knowledge of reasonable accommodations for psychiatric disabilities. Method: In the current study, we conducted qualitative interviews with students and faculty to identify types of reasonable accommodations students receive for their mental illness and factors that influence their ability to avail these accommodations. Results: Factors included lack of awareness of accommodations, achieving fairness between students, and using accommodations as a disclosure tool. Conclusions: Higher education institutions should better support the awareness training on accommodations for both faculty and staff. Self-advocacy training is recommended to help students in disclosing mental illness, requesting accommodations, and managing negative social reactions. Perhaps in vivo coaching is a promising tool to accommodate emotional and interpersonal disabilities.