The Experiences of Undergraduate Students with Physical, Learning, Neurodevelopmental, and Cognitive Disabilities During the Pandemic
Survey
Oct. 2020
Sample Size:
30,099
Demographics:
undergraduate students
Topics:
Covid-19
Student Support
Equity
Diversity And Inclusion
Top Findings:
- The results suggest students with physical, learning, neurodevelopmental, or cognitive disabilities reported experiencing significantly more challenges and hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic than students without disabilities.
- Specifically, students with disabilities experienced more financial hardships, food insecurity, housing insecurity, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Students with disabilities were also less likely to live in safe environments.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted students with physical, learning, neurodevelopmental, and cognitive disabilities who are enrolled at large public research universities.
- Students with physical, learning, neurodevelopmental, and cognitive disabilities were less likely to believe that they feel like they belong on campus and less likely to agree that the campus supported them during the pandemic. Students with those disabilities also experienced higher rates of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder than students without disabilities. Students with disabilities were also less likely to live in safe environments compared to students without disabilities.