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Cited by 70Disability Education and EmploymentHigher Education Research StudiesInclusion and Disability in Education and Sport

Effects of disability-related services, accommodations, and integration on academic success of students with disabilities in higher education. A scoping review

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Römhild, Antje, Hollederer, Alfons·2024·European Journal of Special Needs Education
DOI 10.1080/08856257.2023.2195074
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Abstract

The scoping review provides insight into the empirical evidence on the effects of disability-related services, health promotion, testing accommodations, social and academic integration on academic success of students with disabilities in higher education. A systematic literature search was conducted in EBSCO, ERIC, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Sociological Abstracts, Cochrane Library, and LIVIVO. Empirical studies published between 2008 and 2022, in English and German language, were included. In summary, 46 studies met the inclusion criteria. The results were categorised into four intervention groups and catalogued through a system of categories. The paper demonstrates contrasting effects of the interventions on academic success. The qualitative studies showed that students evaluated the interventions as important for adaption on campus and academic success. However, quantitative studies lacked from sufficient sample sizes and causal relationships of the variables could not be established. The interventions of disability-related services, and testing accommodations did rarely show statistically significant effects on academic success. Health promotion, and social and academic integration showed significant effects of the interventions on success outcomes. The findings of this study have practical implications for university’s staff and disability services, helping to promote the academic success of students with disabilities.

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  • Reducing barriers to higher education is critical for providing disabled students equal access to education and an enriching campus experience, which are determinants of academic success and positive educational outcomes and predictors of career success beyond university.

    “Reducing barriers to higher education is critical for providing disabled 1 students equal access to education and an enriching campus experience, aspects that are also determinants of academic success and positive educational outcomes [52, 75], and predictors of career success beyond university [30, 52].”

    From Rethinking “Empowering Technology” in Higher Education Accessibility: A Case Study of Disabled Students’ Experiences at a German University (2026) · cites this paper as [75]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Römhild, A., & Hollederer, A.
Affiliations
University of Kassel (DE)
Corresponding author
Römhild, Antje
ORCID
Venue
European Journal of Special Needs Education
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2023-04-05
Volume
39
Issue
1
Pages
143-166
ISSN
  • 0885-6257 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-591X
DOI
10.1080/08856257.2023.2195074
OpenAlex
W4362604505
Cited by
70
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 3
FWCI
17.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
European Journal of Special Needs Education (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Ministry of Education and Research
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Disability Education and Employment
  • Social Sciences › Education › Higher Education Research Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport
Keywords
students with disabilities, higher education, academic performance, test accommodations, health promotion, social integration, academic integration, disability services, university students

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