Understanding the Experiences of Black or African American Students With Learning Disabilities Transitioning From High School to a Predominantly White Postsecondary Academic Institution

Abstract

Research has shown that Black or African American college students with learning disabilities are at greater risk of failure at the postsecondary academic level. Previous studies conducted with students having disabilities have shown that for Black or African American students with learning disabilities there are academic and nonacademic barriers that impede their being able to successfully transition to postsecondary education and complete college. However, few studies have explored the experiences of Black or African American students with learning disabilities who have transitioned from a public high school to a predominantly White institution (PWI). The present study examined the experience of five female Black/ African American college students with learning disabilities attending a PWI and how these students made meaning of their transition process from secondary to postsecondary academic institutions. The study uses a qualitative approach and in-depth interviews with narrative results. Findings from this study suggest that the absence of transition planning and inconsistent practices at the secondary education level did not appear to have a substantial impact on how Black or African American students with learning disabilities perceived their transition from highschool into a PWI college; however, race did.