Degree Date

5-2026

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Ed.D. Doctor of Education

Academic Discipline

Disability and Equity in Education

First Advisor

Terry J. Smith, PhD

Second Advisor

Sara Efron, PhD

Third Advisor

Todd Price, PhD

Abstract

                                                                Abstract

This autoethnographic study focuses on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among U.S. veterans and the policies and practices that impact life outcomes. The research answers the questions: (1) what insights emerge from the author’s embedded advocacy experience; (2) what systemic barriers impede veterans’ access to PTSD treatment; and (3) how does military culture shape help-seeking behavior. This research draws on the author’s multigenerational and institutional ties to military service—as descendant of a Korean-era veteran, Marine and Army servicemember, VA employee, and veteran advocate. The researcher constructs detailed autoethnographic and composite narratives of the lived experiences of service members who develop PTSD, from enlistment to boot camp to deployment to reintegration into civilian culture post-service. This long view provides insights into how these different phases impact one another within particular lives. Throughout the narrative, lived experience is connected to policy, research, and to both disability and social theory. Core themes include military culture’s emphasis on stoicism, systemic barriers within the VA and broader healthcare systems, stigma surrounding disability, challenges in reintegration, and the social and psychological implications of untreated PTSD. The study concludes by advocating for policy reform, improved access to evidence-based care, and greater public and professional awareness of the complexities involved in military service, in order to better serve veterans with PTSD.

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