Exploring the Academic and Infrastructural Challenges Faced by Students with Disabilities in Sri Lankan State Universities

Abstract

Despite the efforts made both locally and globally towards ensuring equal access to education, undergraduate students with disabilities still have many challenges that create obstacles to achieving higher learning. To contend with the challenges that students with disabilities are faced with, it is important to first thoroughly understand the challenges that undergraduate students have in their pursuit of higher learning. This study examines several challenges to academic and infrastructural facilities for undergraduate students with disabilities at state universities in Sri Lanka. This qualitative study interviewed 20 students achieving the data saturation from different disability groups, including blindness, low vision, hearing difficulties, and physical disabilities from selected three main state universities in Sri Lanka. Data was collected through non-structured, in-depth interviews and thematic analysis used to identify key themes of the study. The analysis based on themes uncovered crucial obstacles that students with disabilities encounter, like inadequate infrastructure and limitations to educational access. Academic policies demand immediate enhancement and support services, together with disability awareness initiatives, to create an inclusive learning environment. The study reveals crucial information about developing inclusive hiring processes and conducting disability education programs while guaranteeing physical accessibility to HR staff, especially those working in university and inclusive facilities. HR professionals should actively defend policy changes and invest institutional funds to support students with disabilities in building an inclusive educational system. The study delivers significant information that can help government officials, academic administrators, and HR professionals solve existing structural obstacles.