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For my Civic Engagement project for this semester, I have decided to delve a bit further into issues that students with disabilities face. Studies show that students who are diagnosed with a disability are significantly more likely to suffer from psychological conditions or struggle with their mental health than their non-disabled peers. I've decided to research this phenomenon and some proposed solutions for ways for schools to support their disabled student population. Much of this research focuses on college and university students as they are more likely to be able to identify symptoms and are therefore more commonly surveyed in research, but these phenomenon reach students with disabilities in all age groups and the solutions I have studied have applications in all schools.
What is disability and what mental health concerns do students with disabilities face?
What is disability and what mental health concerns do students with disabilities face?
As defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a disability is "a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits one or more major life activities [such as] seeing, hearing, walking, communicating, learning, thinking, and limited bodily functions" (ADA, 1990; ADA-AA, 2008). In the United States, around 19% of undergraduate students and 12% of graduate students have a disability. Research suggests that these students are at a significantly higher risk for experiencing difficulty emotionally, behaviorally, or academically, as well as psychological concerns such as mental distress or self harming tendencies (Aguilar et al. 2020). Students with disabilities are also more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and suicidal risk than their nondisabled peers (Solís García et al. 2024).
Why are students with disabilities at a higher risk for mental health concerns?
Why are students with disabilities at a higher risk for mental health concerns?
There are many reasons that students with disabilities are more likely to struggle with their mental health. There is a great deal of stigma surrounding many disabilities, particularly mental conditions such as psychopathy or borderline personality disorder. Students with these disabilities may have trouble making friends or maintaining relationships with peers. Other mental health conditions such as ADHD and autism can create additional barriers for students with these issues and might cause them to struggle in classes, leading to increased anxiety and possible depression. There has also been research displaying a link between experiences of discrimination regarding disability and "higher symptoms of anxiety and depression, poorer academic self-image, and lower satisfaction with grades" (Lett et al. 2020).
What can be done to support the mental health of students with disabilities?
What can be done to support the mental health of students with disabilities?
There have been many discussions regarding the mental health struggles of disabled students and what can be done to support them. Though there are many more proposed aids than what I have looked at here, I have compiled information about two of the most successful and commonly employed solutions to support the positive mental health of students with disabilities.
Academic Support & Accommodations
Academic Support & Accommodations
Many students with disabilities experience difficulties with school, both in the classroom and beyond. Disabilities can affect many aspects of what students may need to succeed. To help mitigate these struggles, many schools provide accommodations for their disabled students. The above table (higher resolution available in research source link) shows the effectiveness of accommodations that schools can provide for students with disabilities (Salzer et al. 2008). These include things such as tutoring, recording classes, extended time for tests or assignments, alternate ways of assessment, etc. Laws such as the ADA, IDEA, and Section 504 guarantee the rights of disabled students to education in an environment that supports their learning. In order to best support these rights, schools can provide these supports and accommodations to level the playing field as much as possible and give their disabled students the support they need.
Mental Health Support
Mental Health Support
There is a strong need for psychological support in schools for all students, particularly students who are at a risk for mental health concerns such as those with disabilities. One of the most common struggles reported by disabled students when considering mental health services provided by colleges and universities is the lack of understanding with specific disabilities as well as unavailability of support staff. In order to combat this, schools can employ more support staff and specific mental health professionals who may specialize in one or more type of disability. This would allow for more frequent service availability and specialists who are deeply knowledgeable about the struggles their students may face. Emerging studies suggest that mental health support that is focused on a specific disability type may be particularly effective in supporting the mental health of students diagnosed with that disability (Anastopoulos et al. 2021), emphasizing the necessity of tailored assistance and mental health support.
Reflection
As someone who has struggled with disabilities and mental health concerns my entire life, this issue is very near and dear to my heart. It is very important to me that my future students feel supported as much as possible, and students with disabilities should have access to the supports they need in order to succeed in their academic pursuits. Through my research, I have come to better understand the link between disability and mental health concerns, as well as what can be done to help combat these issues. With this knowledge, I will be able to carry with me a deeper understanding of what my students may be going through and be better able to advocate for them. I will always fight for my students to have all they need in order to excel and thrive in school, and my research has given me specific ways to support them and to be a proponent of these supports being provided schoolwide.
Works Cited
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C.A.§ 12101 et seq.
Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-325.
Aguilar, O., & Lipson, S. K. (2020, November 30). A public health approach to understanding the mental health needs of college students with disabilities: Results from a National Survey. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1325421
Anastopoulos A.D., Langberg J.M., Eddy L.D., Silvia P.J., Labban J.D. A randomized controlled trial examining CBT for college students with ADHD. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 2021;89:21. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000553.
Lett K., Tamaian A., Klest B. Impact of ableist microaggressions on university students with self-identified disabilities. Disabil. Soc. 2020;35:1441–1456. doi: 10.1080/09687599.2019.1680344.
McMilllan, J., & Jarvis, J. (2013, October 17). (PDF) mental health and students with disabilities: A review of literature. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling 23(02). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259437995_Mental_Health_and_Students_with_Disabilities_A_Review_of_Literature
Salzer, M. L. (2008). Familiarity with and use of accommodations and supports among postsecondary students with mental illnesses. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18378834/
Solís García, P., Real Castelao, S., & Barreiro-Collazo, A. (2024, February 2). Trends and challenges in the mental health of university students with disabilities: A systematic review. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10886039/
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