From preschool through the end of high school, accommodation and success rather than
self-advocacy and student development are the predominant frameworks for students with
physical disabilities. Many students with physical disabilities who use wheelchairs are assisted
by their family members with daily life activities such as getting out of bed, showering, eating,
dressing, and toileting. For most of these students college is the first time they will have to use
his or her own voice. Once in college, the students are responsible for finding their own personal
care. Students are challenged with becoming responsible for the process of hiring an attendant
for themselves, taking the next step to becoming independent, and being socialized into a new
environment. Many factors affect the transition and experiences from high school to college and
for students with physical disabilities, that transition may involve attendant care.
The purpose of this study was to explore the transitional attendant care issues and
experiences of college students with physical disabilities who use wheelchairs. A
phenomenological approach grounded in qualitative methodology was used in this study. In a
mid-sized public doctoral-granting Midwestern institution, twelve participants were interviewed who were undergraduates with a physical disability using a wheelchair and having attendant
care.
Seven themes emerged regarding transitional issues for students with attendant care: time
management, preparing for attendant care, training attendants, first feelings, accepting
responsibility, parental involvement, and financial considerations. Four themes emerged
regarding their collegiate experiences: attendant care preferences, relationships with attendants,
supportive friends, and characteristics of attendants. Recommendations for future studies, future
researchers, student affairs educators, and future college students were provided.
While students with disabilities that use wheelchairs and attendant care have similar
experiences with many other students, they also have experiences that are completely different
than the average college freshman. It is important to understand the unique challenges this
subpopulation of college students has, and what they can do, and not do, to meet those
challenges. Students with disabilities that use a wheelchair and will use attendant care need to
consider the implications of attendant care and plan ahead prior to coming to college. / Department of Educational Studies
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:123456789/197419 |
| Date | 20 July 2013 |
| Creators | Burwell, Nequel R. |
| Contributors | Wessel, Roger D. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
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