Date Approved

7-6-2026

Embargo Period

7-6-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ed.D. Educational Leadership

Department

Educational Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Ane Turner Johnson, Ph.D.

Committee Member 1

Meghan Crnic, Ph.D.

Committee Member 2

Daniel Hurst, Ph.D.

Disciplines

Education Policy | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Abstract Nicole J. Robinson DO I BELONG HERE?: A NARRATIVE INQUIRY INTO ABLEISM, ACCOMMODATION, AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS WITH MOBILITY DISABILITIES 2025-2026 Ane Turner Johnson, Ph.D. Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Despite federal and institutional disability policy designed to protect equitable access to education, medical students with mobility disabilities encounter systemic barriers shaped by ableism, inconsistent accommodation practices, cultural bias, and exclusionary learning environments. This qualitative study sought to describe the lived experiences of undergraduate medical students with mobility disabilities within U.S. MD and DO programs. A qualitative narrative inquiry using Kim’s (2016) two-phase life story interview approach was conducted with six students who disclosed a mobility disability and requested accommodations. Narrative analysis identified recurring threads across stories through storying and restorying. Participants described persistent pressure to prove their own legitimacy, negotiate the accommodation process, manage the politics of disability disclosure, and resist ableist norms. Findings indicate ableism operates structurally within medical education through policy ambiguity, narrow technical standards, and inaccessible clinical environments which shapes educational experiences and professional identity formation. Current accommodation policies and experiential understanding are insufficient to mitigate these barriers. Medical schools must transition toward proactive, coordinated, and competency-based inclusion strategies to promote belonging, strengthen the healthcare workforce pipeline, and diversify the physician workforce.

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