Risk and stigma: students' perceptions and disclosure of 'disability' in higher education

Abstract

There is a focus on increasing the numbers of students with disabilities to apply to and study in Higher Education (HE). Despite sector-wide criteria regarding what comprises a disability, there are still students who do not disclose a disability at the application stage. This study sought to explore perceptions of students across one UK university regarding their views and experiences of a range of disabilities and reasons why a disability may not be disclosed on application to HE. The findings suggest a lack of understanding regarding what constitutes a disability, and concerns that disclosure will negatively impact upon the application decision and disadvantage the student. This paper highlights the disconnect between the support that universities can provide to students with a disability and the perceptions that some students have about the disadvantages that disclosure can bring. The findings support initiatives at policy and practice level across the sector to recognise and address perceptions and experiences of risk and stigma that applicants may have but at the same time highlight that more needs to be done to reduce the anxieties and lack of clarity that some students experience.

The unpredictable body, identity, and disclosure: Identifying the strategies of chronically ill students at university

“…Alternatively, students with chronic illnesses may not identify as disabled (Boyd, 2012;Jung, 2002), or may not be aware that they are eligible for support via disability services or 'count' as having a disability (Eccles, Hutchings, Hunt, & Heaslip, 2018;Tinklin & Hall, 1999). Finally, students may worry that they will encounter stigma or delegitimation within disability services due to a lack of awareness or understanding of chronic illnesses, or suspicion surrounding fluctuating or invisible conditions (Åsbring & Närvänen, 2002;Jung, 2002;Magnus & Tøssebro, 2014;Valeras, 2010).…”

Measuring the Differential Effects of Behaviors of Academic Advisors for Students with Disabilities

“…However, examination of the item measuring ''frequency of academic advisors reaching out'' indicated the mean difference between students with disabilities and the general population was not significant. Previous literature suggests that the disparity in perceived behaviors from academic advisors may be related to dynamics involving stigma and disclosure (Aune, 2000;Brown & Broido, 2015;Denhart, 2008;Eccles et al, 2018). This disparity may also be affected by institutional commitment to supporting students with disabilities (Brown & Broido, 2015), as advisors at institutions with low commitment may not receive comprehensive professional development on topics related to disability.…”

“…However, many students do not take advantage of the accommodations they are entitled to because they do not disclose their disability (Brown & Broido, 2015;Hartman-Hall & Haaga, 2002). This may be due to a variety of influencing factors, including a lack of pre-college capital (economic and/or social), fear of misconceptions by institutional professionals postdisclosure, anticipation of lack of understanding from faculty members, ignorance that some health conditions could be classified as a disability, or students' past reliance on parent advocates to secure accommodations (Aune, 2000;Brown & Broido, 2015: Denhart, 2008Eccles et al, 2018).…”

Barriers to research access during COVID-19: Interviewing students with disabilities in South African higher education

“…Students with disabilities also make it difficult for academics to access them because some do not disclose their disabilities It could be argued that non-disclosure closes the door to communication entirely, resulting in extreme communication barriers. Literature is fraught with instances in which students' disabilities are not disclosed based on their fear of discrimination (Kendall, 2016;Eccles et al, 2018;Zaussinger & Terzieva, 2018). In the experience of the author, students were already avoiding disclosure of their disabilities before COVID-19.…”