Date
9-2016
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Chair
Deanna Keith
Keywords
Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder, College, Disability Support Services, Special Education, University
Disciplines
Higher Education | Special Education and Teaching
Recommended Citation
Claxton, Bunnie Loree, "A Case Study of an Office of Disability Support Services in Higher Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder" (2016). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 1559.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/1559
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative case study is to identify the factors that impact learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at a university in central Virginia. The theory guiding this study is disability theory as it seeks to explain the limitations placed on persons with disabilities. The central research question is: What factors of the disability support services impact learning in university students with ASD? The subquestions include: (a) How do students with ASD describe their experiences with the university’s disability support service offices? (b) How do university faculty describe their role in supporting students with ASD? (c) What factors of the disability support service offices are perceived by students and faculty as having a positive impact on student learning? (d) What factors of the disability support service offices are perceived by students and faculty as lacking or ineffective? This single case study included six student participants with autism spectrum disorder and four disability support services office faculty members from the university. Data was collected via individual interviews, an online focus group, and documents/archival records. Data analysis consisted of categorical aggregation, development of naturalistic generalizations, and development of themes.
