Abstract
This article discusses ways of understanding the processes involved when disabled students negotiate accessibility in higher education. Despite legislation for universal design and political aims to increase the number of disabled students, individuals themselves have to take initiatives to obtain needed reasonable adjustments. Findings are drawn from a study of everyday lives of disabled students. Research methods employed were: time geographic diaries, in-depth interviews and focus groups. Findings include issues of disclosure and stigma management, supports provided with a twist of ambiguity, and experiences of combatting for individual accommodation. The process of negotiation is discussed in terms of traditions in higher education, the burden individual accommodation in practice place upon disabled students, and the need for changes based on universal design.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15017419.2012.761156 | Journal eISSN: 1745-3011
Language: English
Page range: 316 - 332
Submitted on: Apr 11, 2012
Accepted on: Oct 24, 2012
Published on: Mar 4, 2014
Published by: Stockholm University Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
© 2014 Eva Magnus, Jan Tøssebro, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.