Adolescence to adulthood in STEM education and career development: The experience of students at the intersection of underrepresented minority status and disability
Affiliations: School of Allied Health Professions, Department of Rehabilitation Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA | Hunter College, City University of New York, NY, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Brian T. McMahon, Professor, Assistant Dean of Research, School of Allied Health Professions, Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. Tel.: +1 804 827 0921; Fax: +91 044 22251151; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Several systemic barriers exist to the successful recruitment and retention of students for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education programs and careers when students are both members of an underrepresented minority group and an individual with a disability. The authors have designed intervention programs in higher education settings and in this article they identify and discuss well-entrenched impediment that are programmatic, economic, psychological, architectural, and attitudinal in nature. Unless and until these obstacles are addressed (particularly in early adolescence), marginal gains in recruitment and retention is the most that may be expected for STEM education among underrepresented minority students with disabilities.
Keywords: STEM, Disability, career development, minority
