Despite the topic of people living with disabilities being more common than a few years ago, this minority group still faces obstacles many aren’t aware of. This includes their experiences when they pursue higher education, which explains why data shows that less than 35% of those enrolled—whether in four- or two-year institutions—manage to graduate.
For a large percentage of these students, the difficulties are too much to overcome. The outcome is that many drop out—a much higher percentage than students without disabilities.
The solution doesn’t lie with disabled individuals’ peers or even just at learning centers’ leadership. Looking at the solutions that urgently need to be implemented to prevent this group from missing out on life and career opportunities, it’s clear that a change in approach to this matter is vital at the state board level as well.
Some solutions are easier to implement than many may think, but it requires buy-in and motivation from all higher education leaders to be successful.
Create a Culture of Inclusion
Apart from the practical aspects mentioned below, the atmosphere and culture on campuses need to change. In everything faculties do, they should consider whether it communicates a culture of including all minority groups, including disabled individuals.
Focus on Campus Design and Planning
A large stumbling block is the design of campuses. Layout and design can limit the accessibility of resources and facilities. For example, student accommodation doesn’t always allow for easy access to those with physical disabilities, preventing many from finding appropriate housing on or near campus.
Adopt Inclusive Teaching Methods and Materials
Despite the many advances in technology, many higher education facilities aren’t yet utilizing it to the benefit of students whose disabilities affect their classroom experiences. The delivery of information must be flexible to accommodate different learners.
For example, remote learning, such as recorded lessons, does make information more accessible. However, many disabled students do prefer in-person classes as well because they experience challenges learning remotely. So, does your institution cater to hybrid experiences?
Also, not all campuses ensure classes cater to disabled students. From the lack of wheelchair access to allowing more time during exams for students who are visually impaired, higher education facilities are often found lacking.
The solutions can be as simple as making policy changes, but without the support of leadership, this won’t happen.
Embedding Disability Inclusion into Performance Review for All
One way to ensure change happens is to force faculty members to take up the responsibility to implement change. Performance reviews can include topics related to how much the specific leader took disabilities into account during actions such as planning lessons
Ensure Technology is Accessible
Technology brought helpful tools such as videos. Unfortunately, a common mistake is to use outdated VHS tapes, instead of upgrading to more modern resources. However, while videos make lectures more widely available, only by making it a requirement to add subtitles will an institution cater appropriately to those with hearing difficulties.
The guidelines of what is necessary to ensure a resource is user-friendly for more people already exist, such as ADA compliance for websites that students use to access information. Its guidelines cater to various impairments, whether it’s a challenge with hearing, being partially blind, or even students with motor impairments. Faculty members simply need to align their resources with these details.
There are companies that can assist in helping faculties comply when they compile websites and videos, remediate PDFs and documents, and more. This leaves little room for excuses for not yet catering to the disabled community.
Stand-alone Disability Studies Department
Lack of understanding regarding the difficulties that disabled students face is a huge role player in this concerning matter in modern higher education facilities. It will bring about swifter change if more people are educated about this topic and empowered to help faculties implement appropriate change. For this reason, a department offering courses on Disability Studies can be highly valuable.
Topics such as learning about user experience and how to design for universal accessibility will give Disability Studies students insight into how campuses can change for the better. Both faculty members and general students can learn in this way and become more adept at creating user-friendly learning environments for all.
The leadership of any institution greatly determines the reigning culture. Therefore, in order for facilities of higher education to become more user-friendly environments for disabled individuals, faculty and administrative leaders must intentionally take the lead and prioritize implementing change.
Only a top-down approach can result in environments and atmospheres where people with a variety of disabilities will be accommodated but also feel welcome and empowered to complete their chosen educational journeys.
David Gevorkian is CEO and Founder of Be Accessible.