Policy and Structural Barriers Limiting the Participation of Historically Black Colleges/Universities Through STEM...

This Delphi study examined barriers that prevent historically Black college/universities (HBCUs) from participating optimally in assistive technology-research and development (AT-R&D) through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) pathways. The findings are based upon the experiences of HBCU-based STEM research scientists and faculty members. Delphi panelists ranked the importance of contextual AT-R&D participation barriers ensuing from policy, systems, and structural issues across various categories. Panelists perceived the five most important barriers as heavy teaching loads, inadequate research infrastructure, heavy student advisement commitments, federal agency grant review processes, and limited grant writing/capacity-building training opportunities. Recommendations that can be considered for policy, systems, and structural modifications to catalyze their participation as grantees in federal AT-R&D ecosystem (e.g., National Science Foundation [NSF], National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research [NIDILRR], National Institutes of Health [NIH]) are presented.