The Experiences of Students with Mobility Disabilities in Cypriot Higher Education Institutions: Listening to their voices

Abstract

This article explores the experiences of students with mobility disabilities in Cypriot higher education institutions. In order to obtain relevant information, in‐depth semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 10 Cypriot students with different forms of mobility disabilities, who attended different Cypriot higher education institutions and a variety of courses. This study yielded interesting results in terms of provision (e.g., accommodation for examinations and assignments, note‐taking services, tutorials, counselling services) as well as lecturers’ and students’ attitudes towards disability, raising interesting issues of social inclusion and rights. The quality of their experiences was affected by physical access, provision availability, positive responses by fellow students without disabilities, and the level of awareness among the members of the academic staff or the rest of the staff (e.g., cleaners, administrative officers, and accommodation staff). The findings of this study have implications at an institutional level for rethinking and refining policy and practice on disability.

Keywords:

• Cyprus
• environmental modifications
• higher education
• mobility disabilities
• physical access
• provision
• tertiary students
• support services
• university

Acknowledgements

There was no research funding for this study, and no restrictions have been imposed on free access to, or publication of, the research data.