Below is the full text of the implied consent form.
Marymount University Informed Consent for Participation in Research
Research Study Title: Empowering Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder via Comprehensive Accommodations in Higher Education
Researcher(s): This research is being carried out by Megan Manley, MSOL, Doctoral Student – Marymount University.
Research Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study is to explore and understand (1) which accommodations are perceived as helpful in supporting students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at institutions of higher education, as reported by both the students and Student Accessibility Services Office staff; and (2) the challenges Student Accessibility Staff encounter when implementing and sustaining accommodations for students with ASD at these institutions. This study will analyze two distinct and interconnected viewpoints—(1) students with ASD, who experience the accommodations personally, and (2) Student Accessibility Staff, who coordinate those supports across the institutions. By comparing their perspectives, the research will identify recurring barriers, effective best practices, and implementation challenges. The objective is to produce a template-style “menu” of evidence-based accommodations and support strategies that institutions can adopt as a standard framework for consistently serving students with ASD.
Research Questions: The specific research questions of the study are:
Which accommodations are perceived as helpful in supporting students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in postsecondary education, according to both the students themselves and staff in Student Accessibility Services Offices?
What challenges have student accessibility staff encountered when students with ASD have attempted to utilize accommodations?
Study Expectations: If you agree to participate in this study, here is what will be asked of you:
Complete the online survey or schedule a virtual meeting to provide verbal answers. This may take up to 30 minutes.
Risks: We do not anticipate that participating in this study poses any risks greater than those encountered in day-to-day life.
Benefits: There are no direct benefits to you; however, the results of this study will provide researchers a better understanding of accommodations and interventions that can be provided to students with Autism/Asperger’s/Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder/Pervasive Development Disorder while attending education in a post-secondary setting (that is the college and/or university setting following high-school.
Compensation: There is no compensation for participation in this study.
Privacy and Confidentiality: If you agree to participate in this research we will protect your privacy (no one outside of the research team will know that you participated in this study). We will do this by disconnecting your email from your survey responses, storing the data on a password protected computer in a password protected folder that is only accessible to the research investigators. We will also protect the confidentiality of your data (when we share study findings we will present the data in such a way that no one will be able to associate you with your data). We will do this by reporting the data in aggregate and by the use of pseudonyms for participants. If you provide your accommodation plan, all personally identifiable information will be removed.
Sharing Study Findings: The results of this study will be shared to interested stakeholders, presented at conferences, used in publications (including but not limited to professional journals, dissertation publications, and academic journals), shared to educate others on useful accommodations and supports that best serve students with the identified disabilities. There may be other potential sharing/dissemination of the results that are not identified in this list. This consent allows the researcher to maintain all publication and distribution rights.
Voluntary Participation: Taking part in this study is completely your choice. If you decide to participate, you are free to change your mind and stop participating at any time for any reason. Your participation or lack of participation will not affect your current or future relationship with the researcher(s) or with Marymount University. You may choose to stop at any time.
Questions: You may ask questions at any time. You may contact the researcher, Megan E. Manley at megan_manley@marymount.edu. You may also contact Marymount University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) via email, irb@marymount.edu, or phone, (703) 526-6898.
Statement of Consent
I am at least 18 years of age or older.
I understand the above statements.
All of my questions have been answered.
I freely consent to participate in the research as it has been explained to me.
I understand that if I change my mind or no longer wish to participate I can and may stop at any time.
For those taking an online survey - I understand and agree that completion of the survey (data collection tool) constitutes consent to participate in the study.
For those scheduling a time to meet virtually - I understand and agree that by scheduling a time I consent to participate in the study. The researcher will confirm that I understand this consent and agree to still participate when we meet.
This consent form will be kept by the researcher for at least five years beyond the end of the study and was approved by the Marymount IRB on July 25, 2025.
IF YOU AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RESEARCH SURVEY, PLEASE CONTINUE IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED, THANK YOU FOR READING THE INFORMED CONSENT.