Creating cartoons as representation: visual narratives of college students with learning disabilities

Students with learning disabilities (LD) are the largest sub-group of all students with disabilities attending college in the United States. However, due to the multiple difficulties involved in transitioning from school to college, many do not succeed during their first year. This article chronicles ways in which three students with LD negotiate academic, social, and personal demands of college. The author-artist utilizes cartoons drawn to represent meaningful episodes within student experiences. By combining cartoons with personal narratives, participant testimonies reveal powerful ways in which students with LD strategize and self-advocate in order to survive their transition onto college. After highlighting the strengths and limitations of this approach, a case is made for the potential value of using cartoons for education research.