10 Study Sets to Support Disabled Student Success
Our research focuses on creating accessible higher education environments that support the success of disabled students through evidence-based practices and collaborative partnerships.
Our research focuses on creating accessible higher education environments that support the success of disabled students through evidence-based practices and collaborative partnerships.
The center draws upon three fundamental ideas to drive research and activities.
Student engagement is a critical predictor of student success.
Instructors need more support to build their accessibility knowledge base, mindset, and skills.
The success of students with disabilities requires a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach across all administrative units at an institution.
Our work centers on three key groups:
Elevating their voices and experiences
Strengthening their support and practices
Building knowledge to drive change
Explores engagement, coursework, and outcomes in community colleges.
2 studies completed, 1 ongoing
Captures disabled students’ experiences of accessibility across campuses.
4 studies completed, 4 ongoing
Examines accessibility practices and systems at UT Austin.
4 studies completed
Compares accessibility approaches across U.S. colleges and universities.
1 study completed, 3 ongoing
Examines faculty confidence and support for accessible teaching.
4 studies ongoing
Analyzes leadership decisions shaping campus accessibility.
1 study complete, 2 ongoing
Synthesizes research on disability and higher education.
3 studies coming soon
Studies how and why disabled students choose to disclose in college.
3 studies coming soon
Explores pathways from college to employment for disabled students.
3 studies coming soon
Examines how AI affects access, learning, and decision-making.
3 studies coming soon
Implementing national student surveys and cognitive labs
Doing a thorough literature review and synthesis
Developing new research measurements
Conducting a secondary data analysis of disabled student experiences in a three-year cohort on the CCSSE survey
Together, they provide a complete view of how the Center’s research translates into practical tools that support accessibility and student success.
hello@
The University of Texas at Austin
1912 Speedway SZB 2.502F
Austin, Texas 78712
Get our latest updates, join our online town halls, and use our strategies and models.
© 2026 National Disability Center for Student Success. This website was developed with grant #R324C230008 from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). However, its contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the IES or the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government. Project Officer: Akilah Swinton Nelson, PhD.