Access to curriculum for students with disabilities at higher education institutions: How does the National University of Lesotho fare?
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...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2017-04-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Disability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/257 |
| _version_ | 1818013114827800576 |
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| author | Paseka A. Mosia Nareadi Phasha |
| author_facet | Paseka A. Mosia Nareadi Phasha |
| author_sort | Paseka A. Mosia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:29:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8a90d5dfaf24f53be07a6d53ea7ff96 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-9170 2226-7220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:29:16Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Disability |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8a90d5dfaf24f53be07a6d53ea7ff962022-12-22T02:07:41ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Disability2223-91702226-72202017-04-0160e1e1310.4102/ajod.v6i0.257105Access to curriculum for students with disabilities at higher education institutions: How does the National University of Lesotho fare?Paseka A. Mosia0Nareadi Phasha1Inclusive Education Department, University of South Africa; Educational Foundations Department, National University of LesothoInclusive Education Department, University of South AfricaBackground: 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.https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/257Access to curriculumaccommodationsdisabilitypacesupportUniversity in Lesotho |
| spellingShingle | Paseka A. Mosia Nareadi Phasha Access to curriculum for students with disabilities at higher education institutions: How does the National University of Lesotho fare? African Journal of Disability Access to curriculum accommodations disability pace support University in Lesotho |
| title | Access to curriculum for students with disabilities at higher education institutions: How does the National University of Lesotho fare? |
| title_full | Access to curriculum for students with disabilities at higher education institutions: How does the National University of Lesotho fare? |
| title_fullStr | Access to curriculum for students with disabilities at higher education institutions: How does the National University of Lesotho fare? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Access to curriculum for students with disabilities at higher education institutions: How does the National University of Lesotho fare? |
| title_short | Access to curriculum for students with disabilities at higher education institutions: How does the National University of Lesotho fare? |
| title_sort | access to curriculum for students with disabilities at higher education institutions how does the national university of lesotho fare |
| topic | Access to curriculum accommodations disability pace support University in Lesotho |
| url | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/257 |
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