Fulbright U.S. Scholar 2024-2025
Inclusive Employment: Disabled Disability Service Practitioners in Higher Education
The goal of my research is to explore the employment experiences of disability services practitioners (DSP), who identify as disabled, and work at institutions of higher education (IHE) in Australia. This research project will focus on the experiences of disabled DSP whose personal disability identity, coupled with professional expertise regarding disability in higher education, make them lived-experience experts. The voices of these experts must be elevated to better understand the broader experiences of disabled people, including faculty, staff, and students, at campus communities in Australia and the United States (U.S.).
This project is important because it centers the voices of a systemically and historically marginalized group. My qualitative study will focus on the experiences of disabled DSP in tertiary education to examine how disabled DSP perceive their disability identity and describe their professional experiences. This study is one of the first to focus on disabled DSP to understand how disability identity impacts professional experiences.
Deakin University is an international leader in research and one of the first universities in Australia to establish a disability resource center on campus. This demonstrated commitment to progressive innovation makes Deakin the ideal setting for this disability research. Deakin University has a strong research reputation, and my project closely aligns with Deakin’s well-known research strengths. More specifically, the Institute for Health and Transformation includes the Disability and Inclusion research stream with an interdisciplinary team focused on teaching, research, and service that centers the voices of disabled people.
Dissertation & Publications
Gaspar, E. (in press). The Lived Experiences of Disabled Disability Services Directors. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice.
Gaspar, E. K. (2023). Disability Justice in Higher Education: The Lived Experiences of Disabled White Women Disability Services Directors (Publication No. 30426971)[Doctoral dissertation, Coastal Carolina University]. Proquest Dissertations and Theses.
Gaspar, E. & Setari, A. (2023). Disability services and grade point average: Relationship between formal connection and academics. Journal of Higher Education Management, 38(3), 55- 64.
Linder, C., & Gaspar E. (2015). The hunting ground [Review of the film]. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 52(4), 452-454, doi: 10.1080/19496591.2015.1081602
Gaspar, E., & Frost, J. (2005). Up-skirting and camera phones. Journal of Student Affairs, Vol. XIV, 47-55.
Dissertation: Disability Justice in Higher Education
Pilot Study
Dissertation Participants
Researcher Positionality
In spring 2022, I completed a pilot study exploring the experiences of disabled disability services directors at colleges and universities. This study focused on in-depth interviews with seven participants. Two broad themes emerged: disability identity perceptions and professional experiences. I identified three clear disability identity
In spring 2022, I completed a pilot study exploring the experiences of disabled disability services directors at colleges and universities. This study focused on in-depth interviews with seven participants. Two broad themes emerged: disability identity perceptions and professional experiences. I identified three clear disability identity perception subthemes: intersectionality, fluidity, and dissonance. Similarly, four professional experience subthemes emerged: career paths, normalizing disability, accommodations, and credibility with a catch. This research expands upon these initial findings by narrowing the focus to learn more about the lived experiences of disabled DSP.
Researcher Positionality
Dissertation Participants
Researcher Positionality
Hi, I'm Emily! At the time of my dissertation, I served as a disability services director, and I'm disabled. I am currently an interim assistant vice president for university belonging and student affairs and prior to this role I served as a student affairs professional in disability services, the dean of students office, and university h
Hi, I'm Emily! At the time of my dissertation, I served as a disability services director, and I'm disabled. I am currently an interim assistant vice president for university belonging and student affairs and prior to this role I served as a student affairs professional in disability services, the dean of students office, and university housing. My career in higher education spans nearly 20 years and four universities including Coastal Carolina University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Arizona, and Colorado State University. I earned my doctorate at CCU completing my dissertation research regarding disability justice in higher education with a focus on the lived experiences of disabled disability services directors. The ten principles of disability justice serve as the framework for my study. The principles are attached below.
Dissertation Participants
Dissertation Participants
Dissertation Participants
Eight participants identified as disabled white women who currently serve as directors of disability services at a four-year college or university.
Participants committed to the following:
- 2, one-hour individual interviews OR 1 longer interview; the length and number of interviews will be based on each participant's preference
- asynchronous review of personal experiential themes (member checking)
Research Interests
I'm curious about found friendship in the workplace, disabled leaders, disability justice, higher education administration, and how reading fiction enhances empathy.
Where do our interests overlap? Let's collaborate!