Exploring the Effect of Disability Microaggressions on Sense of Belonging and Participation in College Classrooms

Microaggressions are a form of interpersonal discrimination towards marginalized groups that are often ambiguous in nature and delivered unintentionally. The subtleness of these attacks on identity can make them difficult to recognize and address. Emerging research reveals that the targets of microa...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Harris, Lynsie
Format: Others
Published: DigitalCommons@USU 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/6712
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7903&context=etd
Description
Summary:Microaggressions are a form of interpersonal discrimination towards marginalized groups that are often ambiguous in nature and delivered unintentionally. The subtleness of these attacks on identity can make them difficult to recognize and address. Emerging research reveals that the targets of microaggressions are experiencing negative effects on their wellbeing; however, the bulk of existing literature on this topic only addresses microaggressions perpetrated towards racial minority or LGBT individuals. Little is known about pervasiveness and potential impact of microaggressions directed towards people with disabilities- particularly in academic contexts. This study pilots a measurement tool, the Microaggressions Towards Students with a Disability Questionnaire (MTSDQ), to assist in assessing the frequency with which university students with disabilities are encountering microaggressions in their classroom settings. The negative impact of these events on students’ sense of belonging and willingness to participate in their classrooms is also addressed.