"They're Coming in Pretty Defeated:" Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic( Practice Brief)

Limited research explores postsecondary disability resource professionals' (DRPs) perceptions and experiences supporting students during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of a larger study utilizing national survey and interview data, this paper explores DRPs' experiences and observations related to student mental health during the pandemic-related lockdowns and subsequent transitions back to in- person campus settings. The findings of this study reveal DRPs are grappling with increasing student numbers, continuing need for expanded mental health accommodations and supports, and a persisting urgency to re-examine the role of the disability resource office (DRO) on campus related to student mental health. Implications and strategies for practice.

Disability Resource Professionals' Perceived Challenges in Minority-Serving Institutions During COVID-19: Recommendations for Supporting Students With Disabilities

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all components of higher education, with current inequities within the campus setting exacerbated, creating larger disparities between individuals with and without readily available access to needed resources. Utilizing data collected from a national survey, this article highlights the perceptions and experiences of disability resource professionals (DRPs) employed at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) on how students with disabilities fared during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as potential recommendations for supporting students with disabilities at MSIs for the future. The experiences of DRPs working at MSIs during the COVID-19 pandemic reveal challenges for students with disabilities that may complicate or significantly impact their academic experience within the MSI setting.