The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a disproportionate toll on students with disabilities, according to the report published by the Research University, or SERU, Consortium.
Students with disabilities are more likely to experience mental health challenges, financial hardships, and food and housing insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students with physical, learning, and cognitive were twice as likely to have lost their off-campus job during the coronavirus pandemic than students without disabilities, said the report.
The report said, students with one or multiple disabilities were more likely to report depression and anxiety symptoms and lack of adequate food or housing.
Students with disabilities were more likely to feel unsupported by their universities than students without disabilities, the report said.
Nearly three-quarters of students without disabilities “felt supported by their universities during the pandemic.” In contrast, nearly two-thirds – and in some cases, less than half – of students with disabilities felt supported, according to the report.
Students with multiple disabilities were least likely to feel like they were supported by their college or to feel like “I belong at my university,” which was a separate question.
