Impact of Communication Disability on Student Engagement

Author: Emmanuel Addo

Field of Study: Social Sciences

Faculty Mentors: John Zilvinskis

Easel: 17

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: Student engagement supports learning, development, and persistence, but students with communication disabilities may struggle due to inadequate accommodations. Their engagement strategies remain under-researched. This study aims to understand whether the engagement strategies employed by students with communication disabilities (CD) vary from those in the general population (GP) in navigating the college campus environment. Data from the 2021 National Survey of Student Engagement Administration, which included students with CD (n = 367) and GP (n = 125,955), were analyzed to examine differences across four constructs of Student Engagement. Significant differences with small effect sizes were found in Student-Faculty Interaction, Quality of Interaction, and Collaborative Learning. No significant difference was found in Discussions with Diverse Others. There is a need for targeted support to enhance the college experience of students with CD.