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Disability level and visibility: Associations with unmet academic accommodation needs and attitudes toward requesting
Bryan R Christ1, Bani Malhotra2, Olivia Chapman1
1University of Virginia, Charlottesville, United States of America.
Plos One
|February 9, 2026
Summary
Students with invisible disabilities face greater unmet academic accommodation needs. Addressing these gaps, particularly for invisible disabilities, can improve experiences and empower advocacy for necessary support.
Area of Science:
- Disability Studies
- Educational Psychology
- Sociology of Education
Background:
- Legal mandates in the U.S. aim to ensure appropriate academic accommodations for students with disabilities.
- Significant gaps persist between the accommodations students need and those they actually receive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how disability level, visibility, and demographics influence unmet academic accommodation needs.
- To examine the relationship between disability characteristics and attitudes toward requesting accommodations.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was administered to 409 adults with disabilities.
- Data collected included disability level, visibility (invisible, semi-visible, visible), unmet accommodation needs, and attitudes toward requesting accommodations.
Main Results:
- Invisible disabilities were associated with unmet needs for quiet rooms, extended test time, sensory objects, and Individualized Education Plans.
- Visible and semi-visible disabilities correlated with unmet needs for educational assistants, recording devices, curriculum modifications, and specialized technology.
- Higher disability visibility predicted fewer unmet accommodation needs and more positive attitudes toward requesting them, even after controlling for severity and demographics.
Conclusions:
- Students with invisible disabilities may require more targeted support to ensure their academic accommodation needs are met.
- Improving the accommodation process and fostering advocacy can enhance the educational experiences of students with disabilities.
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