Breaking Free: From Resiliency to Identity-Rewriting the Script of Disability in American Higher Education

Ableism is a systemic issue that continues to plague American postsecondary education – but educators can help break the cycle of ableism and promote inclusiveness. Stephanie’s path to acceptance of her disability was not an easy journey. Her disability manifested at the impressionable ages of 20 and 22 which led to a conflict in her identity as an undergraduate student and, later, as a graduate student. Now fully accepting of her identity as a visually impaired woman, Stephanie reflects on the peaks and valleys that plagued her journey to acceptance. She discusses not only how she experienced ableism within the context of American higher education but also how she endured internalized ableism within herself. She also provides further insight into the models of disability identity and how these models ultimately shape the identities of higher education students. Understanding that ableism is a systemic issue that continues to plague American postsecondary education, Stephanie provides an overview of disability history within higher education. After reflecting on the history of disability in American higher education, she discusses ways in which educators can break the cycle of ableism and further promote inclusiveness within their institutions.