“Am I Good Enough to Be Here?”: A Photovoice Project on Disability and Belonging in Higher Education (Plain Language Summary)

Many college students with disabilities face invisible barriers that go beyond access to ramps or extra time on tests. This study asked: How do students with disabilities actually feel in higher education? Do they feel safe? Do they feel like they belong? Do they feel liked? Six students at a small private university shared their stories and took photographs over several weeks, using a method called Photovoice. These images, combined with interviews, reveal how deeply ableism and exclusion impact their sense of safety, belonging, and worth. The study used polyvagal theory, which explains how our nervous systems respond to environments. For students to engage, connect, and succeed, they must feel: safe (no physical or emotional threat), that they belong (they are valued and respected), and that they are liked (they matter to others).