Students with disabilities’ experience in South African higher education – a synthesis of literature

  • O. Mutanga Institute of Health & Society Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo Kirkeveien 166, UllevÃ¥l sykehus Fredrik Holsts hus, 0450 Oslo NORWAY

Abstract

This state of the art review paper offers a synthesis of published studies on students with disabilities’ experience in South African higher education since 1994, when a democratically elected government came to office. The article presents a review of published studies describing the experiences of students with disabilities in South African higher education (SAHE) in the period 1994-2017. In order to obtain a perspective on the experiences of students with disabilities in South African higher education institutions, a synthesis of the findings and implications of South African studies relating to students with disabilities in SAHE is provided. Three aspects will be discussed namely: (a) conceptualisation of disability; (b) access, inclusion and participation in higher education; and (c) supporting mechanisms for students with disabilities. From this, challenges, areas needing further studies, lessons learnt, approaches and policy implications for policy-practitioners and institutions are suggested.

Author Biography

O. Mutanga, Institute of Health & Society Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo Kirkeveien 166, Ullevål sykehus Fredrik Holsts hus, 0450 Oslo NORWAY

Marie Curie Scientia Fellow

Institute of Health and Society

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Published
2017-12-20
How to Cite
Mutanga, O. 2017. “Students With disabilities’ Experience in South African Higher Education – a Synthesis of Literature”. South African Journal of Higher Education 31 (1), 135-54. https://doi.org/10.20853/31-1-1596.
Section
General Articles