UNC Graduate Student Earns Dual Honors for Research on LGBTQ+ Youth With Disabilities

UNC doctoral student Lyndsay McCabe earned two major honors for research on LGBTQ+ adolescents with disabilities—work that provides evidence local schools can use to support students with intersecting identities.

McCabe placed second in UNC's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition on December 3 for her dissertation on "LGBTQ+ Adolescents with Disabilities' Experiences of School Connectedness and Identity Navigation," and received the Graduate Dean's Citation for Excellence and Outstanding Dissertation on December 12, according to the university's announcement.

McCabe co-authored a 2024 peer-reviewed study with her advisor, Nancy Sileo, in the International Journal of LGBTQ+ Youth Studies. The study examined middle school students' perceptions of disability, gender, and sexual identity.

"Data analysis yielded three common themes of student experiences: (1) gender and sexuality acceptance and inclusivity, (2) the risk of 'coming out' as disabled, and (3) the adverse impact of school on mental health and self-expression," according to the article abstract.

Northern Colorado districts can use the study's findings to craft anti-ableist policies, train staff to recognize disability in LGBTQ+ students, and strengthen mental health support. The findings "emphasize the importance of making schools safe, anti-ableist, LGBTQ+ affirming, and inclusive of diverse populations and forms of expression," according to the article.

The Graduate Dean's Citation for Excellence also honored students in Chemistry and Sport and Exercise Science, underscoring UNC's emphasis on impactful graduate research.