Self-advocacy in college students with learning disabilities.

Abstract

College has become a critical component of career success, and students with disabilities are the fastest growing section of college students. Despite this growth, many students with disabilities take longer to graduate; they choose 2-year degree programs over 4-year degree programs, and struggle with graduating from college. One crucial element of success for students with disabilities is the ability to self-advocate. Self-advocacy is a skill that many students with disabilities will be doing for the first time independently upon graduating from high school. The ability of students with disabilities to understand educational law and apply it in order to obtain the services entitled to them is crucial for academic success in college. This study evaluates multiple studies, court cases, educational law and transition programs in order to determine key components of self-advocacy. Additionally, this study will define self-advocacy and a methodology for determining if students with disabilities can self-advocate in college.