The Access and Equity for Students with Disabilities (SWD) in STEM Higher Education

Abstract

A diverse student body is one that includes students with disabilities (SWDs). A lack of institutional support often marginalizes SWDs from actively participating in the STEM community thus removing a large talent pool from the STEM field. Currently there are several reactive higher education policies that begin to support SWD, and therefore not effective in fully supporting SWD. Mostly accommodations are provided to SWD on request. These accommodations are limited modifications that often do not prioritize the student. By making higher education more proactive and empathetic to SWD, we can truly make the student body diverse.