ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we explore how ableism, the oppression of people with disabilities, shapes how students with and without disabilities engage in higher education environments. We describe enrollment and demographic trends, theoretical lenses used to understand disability, and critical and intersectional perspectives on engagement. We highlight barriers to engagement for disabled students, focusing on ablest attitudes and discriminatory actions, lack of knowledge, legal barriers, physical barriers, and unwelcoming campus environments. We conclude by offering six recommendations and challenging educators to go beyond prescriptive lists and confront the unique subtleties of ableism woven into their institutional fabrics.
