"Not Gonna Hold Me Back”: Coping and Resilience in Students with Disabilities

Authors

Annemarie Vaccaro, University of Rhode Island
Adam Moore, Roger Williams UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Comments

Published in: Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, vol. 56, issue 2, 2019.

Abstract

A constructivist grounded theory study with 59 students with diverse disabilities from four different universities offers insight into coping strategies and long-term resilience for this rapidly growing, but marginalized, population. Embracing a strengths perspective, we present narratives from student exemplars who used creative coping strategies, drew upon past successes to develop successful coping patterns, and exuded resilience as they navigated challenging postsecondary learning environments. Findings reinforce the importance of person-centered student affairs practice.

Recommended Citation

Vaccaro, A., Moore, A., Kimball, E. W., Troiano, P. F., & Newman, B. M. (2019). “Not gonna hold me back”: Coping and resilience in students with disabilities. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 56(2), 181-193.