“If They Could See Me Now!”: College Students Reflect on Their Experiences as Special Education Students in the K-12 System*
Main Article Content
Keywords
special education, expectations, meaning-making
Abstract
The current study examined the experiences of six students with learning disabilities in a four-year public, liberal arts college and discusses the meaning they attributed to their previous identification as special education students while in the K-12 system. Data was gathered through a semi-structured interview, questionnaire, and a sentence stem structure. A qualitative approach was used and results were analyzed using principles of content analysis. Themes emerging as noteworthy were: (a) the effect on relationships with peers, (b) lack of developmental knowledge by school support staff, (c) family support, and (d) the challenges of upholding expectations.
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Lynne A. Kellner, Licensed Psychologist and an Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences, Fitchburg State College
Lynne A. Kellner, Ph.D. is a Licensed Psychologist and an Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences at Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, MA. She received her doctorate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Her research interests focus on how people make meaning of their experiences, and other research has included welfare recipients and sexually abused adolescents. She can be contacted at: Fitchburg State College, 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420 or through e-mail at [email protected].
Lisa Freden
Lisa Freden is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She has worked in school systems from the preschool level through college level and in community mental health. She is currently in private practice in Petersham, MA. Her group work includes parenting workshops for those divorcing and anger management for adjudicated adolescents. She can be contacted at P.O. Box 743 Petersham, MA 01366.