Welcoming All Students to College

CEHD junior Jackson Chandler studies the college experiences of autistic students who also identify as Black or trans

As summer winds down, rising college freshmen across the country are trading familiar routines for new college campuses, classes and friend groups. While this time is often exciting for new students, the transition can also be challenging for students with disabilities, especially those who also identify as Black or trans. As members of two or more underrepresented groups, it can be hard for these students to find their place and feel welcome on a college campus.

That’s why Jackson Chandler, an elementary and middle school teacher education major and disabilities studies minor in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), wanted to work with Associate Professor Sarah Curtiss through UD’s undergraduate summer research program. Curtiss is studying the college experience for students with disabilities who also identify as Black or trans.

“Through my disabilities studies minor, my eyes have really been opened to how behind our society is in being able to welcome all kinds of people—not just those who are fully-abled and neurotypical,” said Chandler. “There are a lot of barriers in place that keep everybody from being able to participate, and we have to overcome that, in part, through the research I’m doing.”

Over the summer, Chandler conducted a review of existing research on the college transitions and experiences of this student group. In addition to giving Chandler a deeper understanding of these experiences, the review identifies gaps in the field—which Curtiss’ project will help fill.

“One of the biggest barriers I’m seeing from the literature review is social exclusion, especially for autistic students,” Chandler said. “In my eyes, college is a very important time where you’re supposed to be able to find your identity and find your group of people. It’s where you make connections that you’ll have for the rest of your life.”

“But if these students are being socially excluded, they’re not able to have that experience,” Chandler continued. “And I think that’s such a crucial part of becoming an adult.”

With Chandler’s support, Curtiss’s research will ultimately help college campuses provide social supports for autistic students and others with disabilities who also share another underrepresented identity. Her research team also includes graduate research assistants, Lux Barton and Allena Pollard, both Ph.D. in education students in CEHD’s School of Education (SOE).

“Jack’s research is helping us prepare for the interviews that we’re going to start in the fall,” said Curtiss, who specializes in special education and disability studies in the SOE. “We hope to learn from students where they find community on college campuses.”

Chandler shared his research through an oral presentation titled “Research Concerning the Needs of College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Another Minority Identity: A Preliminary Literature Review” at UD’s Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity on August 13, joining 500 undergraduates who participated in summer research across the university. The symposium highlighted undergraduate discovery and gave students experience in sharing their work, an important skill for researchers across disciplines.

Chandler credits the program with bolstering his research analysis skills, while developing his ability to share findings from academic studies for lay audiences, who may be unfamiliar with reading academic papers.

He also shared his appreciation for the mentorship of Curtiss, Professor Emeritus Laura Eisenman and others who teach within the disabilities studies program, who he describes as some of the “most passionate” faculty and staff on campus.

After he graduates, Chandler plans to become a special education teacher, working specifically with students as they transition from high school to college.

To learn more about CEHD research in disability and inclusion, visit its research page. To learn more about the services UD provides to individuals with disabilities and their families, visit CEHD’s Center for Disabilities Studies.

Header image caption: Chandler shared his research at UD’s Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity in August 2026, joining 500 undergraduates who participated in summer research across the university.

Article by Jessica Henderson. Photos by Maria Errico and courtesy of Jackson Chandler.