Disability inclusion in higher education: knowledge and perceptions of the academic community

To expand knowledge on the accessibility of higher education to students with disabilities, the study compared 170 such students in higher education institutions in Israel with 156 students without disabilities for formal achievements and overall participation in higher education. Results revealed that academic achievements of students with disabilities were almost as high as those of students without disabilities, and overall students' experiences were similar. But the two groups of students differed in areas of experiences, as did students with various disabilities among themselves. Analysis of the data indicates that students with disabilities invested more time to meet the demands of their studies, participated in fewer social and extra-curricular activities, and used computers and information technology less. Higher education institutes still have a long way to go to reduce the gap in social inclusion of students with disabilities and to adjust academic standards for their needs.

foi objetivo do estudo conhecer e descrever as ações contidas nas propostas contempladas pelo "Projeto Incluir/MEC-Acessibilidade na Educação Superior" nos anos 2005-2008. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo do tipo documental. Contou com as seguintes etapas de revisão de literatura, levantamento das propostas de acessibilidade submetidas por Instituições Federais de Ensino Superior-IFES, contato com os coordenadores dos programas e busca sistemática para acesso aos projetos na íntegra, leitura dos projetos obtidos, organização dos dados em categorias previamente estabelecidas a partir dos Fatores Contextuais da Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde-CIF. Identificou-se 115 projetos envolvendo 58 IFES, porém apenas 11 projetos foram acessados na íntegra, constituindo a amostra deste estudo. As ações se enquadravam na Parte 2 da CIF - Fatores Contextuais Pessoais/ambientais, e descrevem ações voltadas à aquisição e desenvolvimento de produtos, incluídos no componente "Produtos e Tecnologias", ações no componente "Atitudes" visando conscientizar a comunidade acadêmica/não-acadêmica, e ações voltadas aos "Serviços, Sistemas e Políticas", objetivando a adequação do processo seletivo/vestibular, contratação de intérpretes, capacitação de funcionários/docentes, articulação com outras instâncias da comunidade. Conclui-se que as ações propostas mostram que a inclusão de pessoas com deficiência no ES diz respeito a tudo que envolve o sujeito em suas relações cotidianas e devem estar voltadas para as atitudes frente à pessoa com deficiência, às políticas de inclusão e aquisição de produtos e tecnologias assistivas.

Background Creating access to curricula at institutions of higher education for students with disabilities requires a concerted effort from management and other key stakeholders to identify students’ needs and create opportunities for success. Objectives This paper presents the findings of a study which examined students with disabilities’ access to curricula at a higher education institution in Lesotho. Method Data for this qualitative study were collected using three methods: in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis. Eleven students with various types of impairments and 15 academic and non-academic staff members currently working in close proximity to students with disabilities participated in this study. Results The findings reveal inconsistencies between the institution’s admission policy of non-discrimination according to disability status and its practices. These inconsistencies are discussed under the following themes: (1) access at admission level, (2) management of disability data, (3) support by the special education unit, (4) teaching strategies, (5) support by lecturers, (6) availability of assistive technology, (7) special concessions and (8) students’ coping mechanisms. Conclusion We recommend that a clear policy concerning the support of students with disabilities be developed with the following aims: guide decisions on how disability data should be used, define roles that different university departments must play in facilitating access to curricula for all students, influence suitable development of teaching and learning resources, stimulate research on success and completion rates of students with disabilities and mandate restructuring of programmes that are currently inaccessible to students with disabilities. Key stakeholders, including students with disabilities, disabled persons’ organisations, disability rights activists, and staff should be involved in such policy design.