Positively Deviant: Life Without Boundaries: The Attitudes of Differently Abled Students

By Davi Kallman

 Are there currently enrolled students with physical disabilities (level of mobility/ severe or non severe) that are registered with the Disabled Student Services Office (DSSO), that have suffered from a disability related illness  during their tenure at the university  (that requires a couple weeks worth of makeup work), that have household responsibilities, and suffer from financial burden preventing them from having assistant care at home, and despite all these obstacles are able to maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher and graduated from UTEP in four years or under?

Facts on Disabled Students:

—  On average, 350 students with disabilities attend classes at UTEP each semester. Each student will have a unique set of abilities and disabilities requiring unique accommodations. These accommodations may include but are not limited to:

—   2.3 million undergrad & grad students reported disabilities in 2004, more than double the 1.1 million reported in 1996

—   The Disabled Community is severely underrepresented, as less then 4% of all UTEP undergraduates have some type of disability -- making the disabled the one of the most unrepresented group. 

—  These numbers can partially contribute to the lack of concern on the part of the administrators in increasing the enrollment of disabled students, as disability is not defined by race, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status

—  The dropout rate for students with disabilities is approximately twice that of general education students (Blackorby & Wagner, 1996).

PD Survey:

—  Are you a undergraduate UTEP student?

—  Do you have a physical disability?

—  Have you suffered from a disability related illness during your tenure at the University? 

—  Do you have household responsibilities? 

—  Do you have assistant care at home? 

—  Do you have a financial burden that prevents you from getting assistance?

—  Have you been able to maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher? 

—  Will you graduate from UTEP in 4 years or under? 

Finding the Unusual Suspects:

—  Email send to the DSSO Coordinator: Neelam/ and surveys were sent to those individuals who met the criteria

—  A note was created on the ADD facebook page asking for students you apply to the criteria to email back

—  Inviting others to send out the surveys and participate

What Was Found From Survey Responses:

—  That Physically Disabled Students who have a 2.5 GPA or higher will not graduate UTEP in 4 years or under

—  That Physically Disabled has multiple meanings: severity is rated by ability to perform certain tasks

—  Many of these students have families as well- add to burden