Article

Negotiating individual accommodation in higher education

Authors:

Eva Magnus
Email Eva Magnus
Jan Tøssebro

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.

Keywords:

disability higher education stigma universal design individual accommodation

Submitted on 11 Apr 2012
Accepted on 24 Oct 2012
Published on 4 Mar 2014

Peer Reviewed