The academic support needs of students with impairments at three higher education institutions

Abstract

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa protects the rights of all people and identifies disability as a criterium on which the principle of equity must be based. Therefore, the question arises whether the South African education system follows an education for all approach by including people with impairments in their student population. From a survey of three South African universities, it was found that less than 0,5% of the student population were represented by students with impairments. This gives rise to the following research question: What are the needs and problems experienced by adult learners with impairments in higher education? To investigate this problem, three institutions of higher education were included in survey research and, a questionnaire was distributed to 751 students with impairments. Based on the findings and on the recommendations of the impaired students themselves, a number of suggestions for the improvement of the conditions at universities are made.



SAJHE Vol.18(1) 2004: 228-251