BIO

Hello, my name is Kailey DiPaolo I am from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and I am currently pursuing a degree in IMS Clinical Professions in the hopes to become a physician.

Navigating College During the Pandemic

Abstract

As colleges and universities pursue a transition back to fully in-person classes, the prevailing narrative of returning to “normalcy” dominates the conversation. Unfortunately, asserting a “back to normal” mindset disregards the disparate experiences faced by students with disabilities in comparison to their peers. This project presents a review of six previous studies that analyzed college experiences for students with disabilities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings show that this population has experienced high rates of depression and a lower sense of belonging during the pandemic. As an already marginalized group, COVID-19 hindered their college experiences further including making it more challenging for them to receive accommodations. We show that additional qualitative studies focused on student narratives are needed.

Keywords: COVID-19, disabilities, college