Postsecondary Education and Disability, 15(1), 28-58. Comparison of Student And Service Provider Perspectives

In a series of three studies conducted between fall 1997 and spring 1999 we explored the computer, information and adaptive computer technologies needs and concerns of Canadian postsecondary students. To obtain an overview of the important issues, in Study 1 we conducted focus groups with 6 postsecondary personnel responsible for providing services to students with disabilities and 12 postsecondary students with various disabilities. In Study 2 we obtained in-depth information from Canada-wide structured interviews with individuals responsible for providing services to students with disabilities (n=30) and with 37 postsecondary students with various disabilities. In Study 3 we collected comprehensive information via questionnaire from a Canada-wide sample of 725 junior/community college and university students as well as data about the proportion of students with disabilities from 162 campus based disability service providers. Here we report on the scientific aspects, including the methods used and the findings. In a companion article (Fichten, Asuncion, Barile, Fossey, Robillard, & Wolforth, 2001) we use the findings to generate wide-ranging recommendations and provide resources and tools for practitioners