Students with Disabilities and Participation in Extracurricular Activities

The role of secondary educators is to produce successful students, not only academically but developmentally. Educators must equip students with the skills and habits they need to transition into adulthood smoothly. Instructors are constantly looking at ways to produce student achievement, but unfortunately, not all students graduate on time, and, even worse, some students drop out of high school. One group of students who fall into this at-risk category is those with disabilities. Students with disabilities tend to have lower academic achievement, more chronic absences, and more behavior misconduct than students without disabilities.This study examined the effect participation in extracurricular activities had on the variables of academic success, number of absences, and discipline referrals. Multiple regression, ANOVA, and independent t-tests were used to examine this study’s four main research questions. The researcher found statistical evidence that students with disabilities involved in extracurricular activities had fewer absences than those who did not participate. Statistical evidence was not found between involvement in extracurricular activities and the number of discipline referrals. Results also showed that, although not statistically significant, the mean Reading SOL and Math SOL scores of students with disabilities who participated in extracurricular activities were higher when compared to their uninvolved peers.