Accommodation of students with physical disabilities in face-to-face based distance education in Ghana

ABSTRACT

Distance education is believed to provide opportunities for everyone to receive higher education. It is, however, not yet clear if face-to-face (f-t-f)-based distance education is a viable option for persons with disabilities, particularly because of the limitations that come with this mode of education. This study investigated the accommodation of students with physical disabilities (SWPD) in f-t-f-based distance education in Ghana. Interviews with 19 SWPD provided the dataset for this study. Following a thematic analysis of the dataset, four themes were identified. They were distance of programme and activity venues, difficult access to study centre facilities, little consideration in the lecture and examination halls, and desired institutional support. It was concluded that f-t-f-based distance education is not accommodating of SWPD but can be made more accommodating by adopting ubuntu-oriented policies and strategies. Adopting an ubuntu orientation could lead to the elimination of barriers encountered by SWPD in universities, particularly in Europe.

KEYWORDS:

• Disability accommodation
• distance education
• inclusion
• persons with disability
• student support

Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the inputs of Dr. Ernest Obese and Dr. Brandford Bervell in preparing this article as well as the reviewers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).