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Educational Expectations Matter in College Application and STEM Major Choices for Students with Disabilities

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Title: Educational Expectations Matter in College Application and STEM Major Choices for Students with Disabilities
Language: English
Authors: Yuane Jia (ORCID 0000-0002-1792-0431), SunHee J. Eissenstat, Ni Gao
Source: Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2026 36(4):231-241.
Availability: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: High School Students, Expectation, STEM Education, College Applicants, Majors (Students), Students with Disabilities, Predictor Variables, Student Characteristics, Student Experience, Self Efficacy, Student Interests
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (NCES)
DOI: 10.1177/10442073251368339
ISSN: 1044-2073
1538-4802
Abstract: This study investigated the predictive relationships between (a) U.S. high school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and college application and (b) STEM major choice for students with disabilities (SWD) compared with students without disabilities (SWOD). Social cognitive career theory was utilized to elucidate the predictive factors associated with career development. The sample was extracted from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, which included 1,361 SWD and 5,962 SWOD. The findings indicate that educational expectations consistently predicted college application and STEM major choices for SWD as well as for SWOD. Demographic variables such as race and socioeconomic status were not predictive, except for gender, which was shown to influence both SWD's and SWOD's decisions regarding whether to pursue a STEM major. Several suggestions to facilitate STEM education for SWD are presented.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1496337
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Educational Expectations Matter in College Application and STEM Major Choices for Students with Disabilities
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yuane+Jia%22">Yuane Jia</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1792-0431">0000-0002-1792-0431</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22SunHee+J%2E+Eissenstat%22">SunHee J. Eissenstat</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ni+Gao%22">Ni Gao</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Disability+Policy+Studies%22"><i>Journal of Disability Policy Studies</i></searchLink>. 2026 36(4):231-241.
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  Data: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 11
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Expectation%22">Expectation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+Education%22">STEM Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Applicants%22">College Applicants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Majors+%28Students%29%22">Majors (Students)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Students+with+Disabilities%22">Students with Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predictor+Variables%22">Predictor Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Characteristics%22">Student Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Efficacy%22">Self Efficacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Interests%22">Student Interests</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/10442073251368339
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  Data: 1044-2073<br />1538-4802
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study investigated the predictive relationships between (a) U.S. high school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and college application and (b) STEM major choice for students with disabilities (SWD) compared with students without disabilities (SWOD). Social cognitive career theory was utilized to elucidate the predictive factors associated with career development. The sample was extracted from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, which included 1,361 SWD and 5,962 SWOD. The findings indicate that educational expectations consistently predicted college application and STEM major choices for SWD as well as for SWOD. Demographic variables such as race and socioeconomic status were not predictive, except for gender, which was shown to influence both SWD's and SWOD's decisions regarding whether to pursue a STEM major. Several suggestions to facilitate STEM education for SWD are presented.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1496337
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1496337
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/10442073251368339
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 231
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: High School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Expectation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: STEM Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Applicants
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      – SubjectFull: Majors (Students)
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      – SubjectFull: Students with Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Predictor Variables
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Characteristics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Efficacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Interests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (NCES)
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Educational Expectations Matter in College Application and STEM Major Choices for Students with Disabilities
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            NameFull: SunHee J. Eissenstat
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            NameFull: Ni Gao
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              M: 03
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              Y: 2026
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            – TitleFull: Journal of Disability Policy Studies
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