Summary
A wide variety of team members are presenting research findings at the world's largest conference of education researchers.
Researchers from the National Disability Center for Student Success will be presenting their findings at the American Education Research Association Annual Meeting (AERA 2025) on April 23-27, 2025, in Denver — the world’s largest showcase for groundbreaking and innovative education research.
AERA 2025 Delegation
A variety of people from the National Disability Center’s interdisciplinary teams authored the research that was accepted for presentation at AERA 2025. They include:
Leadership Team
- Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD, Executive Director and Principal Investigator
- Greg J. Roberts, PhD, Director of Evaluation and Co-Investigator
- Desirée Lama, Coordinator of Student Partnerships
Student Fellows
- Soren Aldaco, Undergraduate Student
- Lily Grace Alvarez, Doctoral Student
- Madeline Celeste O’Grady, Doctoral Student
Faculty Cadre
- North Cooc, EdD
- Denisa Gàndara, PhD
Research Team
- Mike Bohlig, PhD
- Pierce Capelli, Doctoral Student
- Anna Mari Fall, PhD
- Ryan A. Mata, MA, Doctoral Research Affiliate
Measuring Campus Accessibility
The first presentation, Access for All? Including the Student Perspective in Measures of Campus Accessibility, is a roundtable on Wednesday, April 23, co-presented by Desirée Lama, Ryan A. Mata, Soren Aldaco, Lily Grace Alvarez, Madeline Celeste O’Grady, and Stephanie W. Cawthon.
It is part of the session “Empowering Voices: Equity and Agency in Higher Education.”
At the roundtable, they will report the process and the outcomes of the pilot of the National Disability Center’s research project, the Campus Accessibility Measure (CAM), which addresses the need for a comprehensive measure of accessibility for students in higher education. By prioritizing accessibility, higher education institutions foster an inclusive and effective learning environment for all students, especially disabled students. However, despite the recognized value of accessibility, there are few validated measures of accessibility in higher education.
This measure consisted of two subscales, one for instructor-level and institution-level accessibility. For example, instructor-level items relate to learning experiences in the classroom, whereas institution-level items relate to the accessibility of campus systems and services. The validation process included diverse perspectives during design, survey pilot, and cognitive lab interviews.
Boosting Engagement and Outcomes
The second research presentation, College Readiness and Academic Outcomes for Students Who Use Disability Services in Community Colleges, is a paper on Thursday, April 24, co-presented by North Cooc, Anna-Mari Fall, Greg J. Roberts, Denisa Gàndara, Pierce Capelli, Michael Bohlig, and Stephanie W. Cawthon.
It is part of the session “Bridging the Gap: Transfer Students, Advising Styles, and Academic Support Structures.”
In this study, researchers examine how enrollment in developmental courses may relate to engagement and academic outcomes among students who use disabilities services. Enrollment in remedial and developmental courses is a measure of college readiness and a common experience among U.S. college students, particularly those with disabilities at two-year colleges.
Using data from the Community College Survey of Student Engagement 2021-2023 cohort (n = 218,302 students, 481 community and technical colleges, 44 states) and multilevel structural equation modeling, they find that developmental course enrollment is associated with higher levels of engagement and perceived academic skills and career preparation. The results have implications for supporting students with disabilities in entering and completing college.
Dr. Cawthon’s Keynote Presentation
In addition to the research presentations, Dr. Cawthon will give a special keynote presentation to AERA’s Inclusion and Accessibility in Educational Assessment Business Meeting on Saturday, April 26.
Her topics will include the formation and innovative approach of the National Disability Center for Student Success and her new book, Disability Is Human: The Vital Power of Accessibility in Everyday Life, which seeks to dispel myths and raise expectations about disabled people.
About AERA 2025
AERA’s annual conference is a showcase for groundbreaking, innovative education research in an array of areas, including postsecondary settings, disability, and accessibility. The year’s theme, Research, Remedy, and Repair: Toward Just Education Renewal, asks researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to “share insights from our work toward a goal of improving education for all and to remind ourselves of the critical importance education holds in realizing democratic ideals.”
Check the AERA 2025 program for complete details, times, and locations. The conference hashtag is #AERA25.
