Date
5-16-2024
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)
Chair
Susan K. Stanley
Keywords
inclusion, higher education, intellectual disabilities, postsecondary education, job training
Disciplines
Higher Education | Special Education and Teaching
Recommended Citation
Granberry, Jami Vickers, "A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Participation in Postsecondary Job Training Programs: A Qualitative Study" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5554.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5554
Abstract
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of individuals with intellectual disabilities in an inclusive postsecondary education program. The theories that guided this study are Oliver’s theory on the social model of disability and Vygotsky’s theory of social constructivism. This study used a transcendental research design and employed the use of purposeful sampling to select participants who have all experienced the same phenomenon. There were 10 participants who have all had the same experience of attending an inclusive postsecondary education program. The setting took place at P.C.C. in the C.A. program. The central research question asked, what are the lived experiences of individuals with intellectual disabilities enrolled in inclusive postsecondary career and technical training programs located on a college campus? Data collection types included interviews, journal prompts, and focus groups. A system of coding along with epoché, horizontalization of data, and structural descriptions were used for data analysis to determine major themes from the data collected. The trustworthiness, results, and findings of the study are also discussed. Findings included five themes and two sub-themes. The five themes were education and career aspirations, concept of inclusion, inclusivity and social engagement, campus engagement and support networks, and sense of belonging. The two sub-themes were career and professional development and real-world application and practice. The dissertation then moves into an overall discussion of the interpretation of the findings, the implications of the study, limitations, delimitations, and recommendations for future research. The dissertation ends with a conclusion that summarizes the full study.
