Defining Reasonable Accommodations in Higher Education for Adult Students with Disabili

231 Pages·2017·1.87 MB·English

Walden University
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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Collection
2016
A National Mixed Methods Research Study:
Defining Reasonable Accommodations in Higher
Education for Adult Students with Disabilities
Anita Schwartz
Walden University
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Walden University

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by

Anita Schwartz

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,
and that any and all revisions required by
the review committee have been made.

Review Committee
Dr. Sandra Mahoney, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty
Dr. Linda Whinghter, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty
Dr. Richard Thompson, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty

Chief Academic Officer
Eric Riedel, Ph.D.

Walden University
2016
Abstract
A National Mixed Methods Research Study: Defining Reasonable Accommodations in
Higher Education for Adult Students with Disabilities
by
Anita Schwartz
MSW, Fordham University, 2005
BS, Mercy College, 2002
Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Organizational Psychology
Walden University
October 2016
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions that differ among university
personnel and students with disabilities regarding the vagueness in the legal definition of
the term reasonable accommodations. The theoretical framework that guided this study
was the social model of disability. Using a sequential mixed-method design, the first
strand surveyed 98 students and 93 personnel; then 10% of each group participated in an
interview or focus group. The main research questions explored the different
accommodations offered by university personnel versus those that were used by students
and the different perceptions of the term reasonable accommodations in accordance with
ADA law. A chi-square test was used to analyze yes/no survey data and a t test was used
for the Likert scale question. In the first strand there were statistically significant findings
in distribution and perception of 35 specific accommodations, including advocacy and
counseling. Both focus group and interview data were analyzed and themes emerged,
such as specific accommodations. An important finding from the qualitative strand was
that more than half the students thought they were not receiving reasonable
accommodations while the majority of university personnel thought they provided
reasonable accommodations. The key result was the lack of a clear consensus between
students with disabilities and university personnel in definitions of reasonable
accommodations. Disseminating the results of this research study can create positive
social change in the legislative and academic arenas by creating a better understanding of
the impact of the current standard of reasonable accommodations. One recommendation
is the creation of federal and state level commissions to administer, manage, and maintain
policies for colleges.
Defining Reasonable Accommodations in Higher Education for
Adult Students with Disabilities
by
Anita Schwartz
MSW, Fordham University, 2005
BS, Mercy College, 2002
Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Organizational Psychology
Walden University
October 2016
Table of Contents
List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1
Background ....................................................................................................................2
Problem Statement .........................................................................................................4
Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................4
Research Questions and Hypotheses .............................................................................5
Theoretical Foundation ..................................................................................................8
Nature of Study ..............................................................................................................9
Operational Definitions ..................................................................................................9
Assumptions and Limitations ......................................................................................14
Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................14
Limitations ...................................................................................................................15
Significance of the Study .............................................................................................16
Summary ......................................................................................................................16
Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................18
Content and Organization of the Literature Review ....................................................18
Issues Related to Higher Education and ADA Law.....................................................20
Review of the Literature ..............................................................................................21
Court Cases Pertaining to ADA .............................................................................22
Problematic Issues .................................................................................................24
Aspects of Social Change ............................................................................................26
Current Changes in the Law ..................................................................................28
i
The Amendments ...................................................................................................29
Current Status of ADA and Recommendations .....................................................29
Outcomes of Court Cases Pertaining to ADA .......................................................33
Court Cases Pertaining to ADA Regarding Higher Education ..............................37
Research Studies Regarding ADA Accommodations ............................................42
Why Study Accommodations? ..............................................................................49
Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................50
Theories Related to Topic ......................................................................................50
Theories Related to Methodology ..........................................................................53
The Need for a Concrete Theory ...........................................................................55
Design Protocol ............................................................................................................55
Summary ......................................................................................................................58
Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................60
Introduction ..................................................................................................................60
Methodology of the Study: Quantitative and Qualitative Data ...................................60
Methodological Rationale ............................................................................................61
Research Design and Approach ...................................................................................64
Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................67
Context of the Study ....................................................................................................67
Ethical Considerations and Procedures ........................................................................69
Protection of Human Participants ................................................................................70
Setting and Sample ......................................................................................................70
Participant Sample .......................................................................................................71
ii
Data Collection and Analysis.......................................................................................72
Procedures ....................................................................................................................72
Selection of Participants ........................................................................................72
Instrumentation and Materials ...............................................................................76
Data-Collection Techniques ...................................................................................79
Data-Analysis Techniques .....................................................................................81
Descriptive Statistics, Parametric, and Nonparametric Testing .............................82
Data Mixing ...........................................................................................................83
Dissemination of Findings ...........................................................................................88
Summary ......................................................................................................................89
Chapter 4: Results ..............................................................................................................90
Introduction ..................................................................................................................90
Setting ..........................................................................................................................92
Demographics ..............................................................................................................92
Data Collection ............................................................................................................92
Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................93
Results ..........................................................................................................................94
Quantitative Components.......................................................................................94
Statistical Analysis—Categorical Data ..................................................................97
Statistical Analysis—Numeric Data ......................................................................99
Qualitative Components.......................................................................................107
Focus Groups .......................................................................................................109
Member Checking ................................................................................................122
iii
Interviews ...................................................................................................................122
Mixing Data ...............................................................................................................140
Evidence of Trustworthiness ......................................................................................146
Credibility ............................................................................................................146
Transferability ......................................................................................................146
Summary ....................................................................................................................146
Chapter 5: Conclusion......................................................................................................148
Introduction ................................................................................................................148
Background ..........................................................................................................148
Nature of Study ....................................................................................................148
Interpretation of the Findings...............................................................................148
Quantitative Data .................................................................................................149
Qualitative Data ...................................................................................................150
Mixing Data .........................................................................................................157
Limitations of the Study.............................................................................................161
Recommendations ......................................................................................................162
Implications................................................................................................................164
Positive Social Change in Policy on the Individual’s Level ................................165
Conclusion .................................................................................................................166
References ........................................................................................................................167
Appendix A: List of Accommodations ............................................................................191
Appendix B: Letter to Editors of National Newspapers ..................................................193
Appendix C: Letter to Disability Service Centers ...........................................................194
iv
Appendix D: Facebook.com Page, General Information .................................................195
Appendix E: NIH Certificate of Completion ...................................................................197
Appendix F: Survey .........................................................................................................198
Appendix G: Permission Letter to Utilize Public Domain Survey ..................................214
Appendix H: Total Themes ..............................................................................................217
Appendix I: University Personnel of How They View Accommodations ......................218
Appendix J: Syllabus From University Personnel Given in an Interview .......................219
v