Understanding Factors Affecting Inclusions of Students with Disabilities in Higher Education: A Study among Non-Disabled University Students
Abstract
Inclusive education for people with disabilities is gaining importance globally, with improving factors that support the inclusion of students with disabilities in higher education as a key objective. This study explores how societal and environmental factors shape perceptions of disability, rather than viewing it solely as an individual limitation. A non-probability convenience sampling method was employed, involving 279 university students from six different faculties. Data were analyzed through frequency distribution and SPSS to examine the attitudes of non-disabled students toward the inclusion of their disabled peers in higher education. The findings reveal that environmental barriers are strongly associated with the attitudes of non-disabled students toward their peers with disabilities (r = .693, p < .01), indicating that these barriers significantly impact how students perceive and interact with those who have impairments. The non-disabled students identified specific environmental factors that either support or hinder the inclusion of disabled students in university settings. This research highlights the need for addressing environmental obstacles to foster a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for all students.
Downloads
References
Abbott, S., & McConkey, R. (2006). The barriers to social inclusion as perceived by people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of intellectual disabilities, 10(3), 275-287. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1744629506067618
Abu-Hommos, N. (1985). West Bank University students' attitudes toward handicapped people (Publication No. 8516318). ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/west-bank-university-students-attitudes-toward/docview/303460555/se-2
Alhamad, T. M. (2021). Measuring attitudes of Saudi students in the U.S. toward people with disabilities (Publication No. 28770276). ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. https://www.proquest.com /dissertations-theses/measuring-attitudes-saudi-students-u-s-toward/docview/2642231235/se-2
Bagenstos, S. R. (2000). Subordination, stigma, and disability. Va. L. Rev., 86, 397. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1073960
Batanero, J. M. F., Rueda, M. M., & Fernández?Cerero, J. (2022). Access and Participation of Students with Disabilities: The Challenge for Higher Education. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health/International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 11918. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911918
Beckett, A. E. (2014). Non-disabled children’s ideas about disability and disabled people. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 35(6), 856-875. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2013.800444
Claiborne, L. B., Cornforth, S., Gibson, A., & Smith, A. (2011). Supporting students with impairments in higher education: social inclusion or cold comfort? International Journal of Inclusive Education, 15(5), 513-527. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13603110903131747
Daruwalla, P., & Darcy, S. (2005). Personal and societal attitudes to disability. Annals of Tourism Research, 32(3), 549-570. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2004.10.008
Deal, M. (2003). Disabled people's attitudes toward other impairment groups: A hierarchy of impairments. Disability & Society, 18(7), 897-910. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0968759032000127317
De Boer, A., Pijl, S. J., & Minnaert, A. (2012). Students’ attitudes towards peers with disabilities: A review of the literature. International Journal of disability, development and education, 59(4), 379-392. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2012.723944
Edling, S., Francia, G., Thornberg, R., Gill, P., Wänström, L., Bjereld, Y., & Sjögren, B. (2024). Exploring school climates that may lead to bullying and/or to positive engagement in learning. Presented at the NERA 2024. Adventures of Education: Desires, Encounters and Differences. Malmö Date March 6 - 8, 2024. Retrieved from https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-45323
F. Antonak, R., & Livneh, H. (2000). Measurement of attitudes towards persons with disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 22(5), 211–224. https://doi.org/10.1080/096382800296782 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/096382800296782
Fernández-Batanero, J. M., Montenegro-Rueda, M., & Fernández-Cerero, J. (2022). Access and Participation of Students with Disabilities: The Challenge for Higher Education. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health/International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 11918. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911918 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911918
Francis, G. L., Duke, J. M., Fujita, M., & Sutton, J. C. (2019). It's a Constant Fight: Experiences of College Students with Disabilities. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 32(3), 247-262.
Furnham, A., & Pendred, J. (1983). Attitudes towards the mentally and physically disabled. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 56(2), 179-187. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8341.1983.tb01545.x
Garis Panduan Pelaksanaan Dasar Inklusif Orang Kurang Upaya di IPT (2019). Malaysia: Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia.
Getzel, E. E. (2008). Addressing the persistence and retention of students with disabilities in higher education: Incorporating key strategies and supports on campus. Exceptionality, 16(4), 207-219. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09362830802412216
Green, S., Davis, C., Karshmer, E., Marsh, P., & Straight, B. (2005). Living stigma: The impact of labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination in the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. Sociological Inquiry, 75(2), 197-215. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-682X.2005.00119.x
Hamid, N. A., & Johari, M. K. A. (2021). Hubungan kebolehcapaian persekitaran fizikal kampus terhadap prestasi mahasiswa orang kelainan upaya di Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia: Relationship between campus physical environment accessibility to the performance of disabled students at Tun
Hassanein, E. E., Alshaboul, Y. M., & Ibrahim, S. (2021). The impact of teacher preparation on preservice teachers' attitudes toward inclusive education in Qatar. Heliyon, 7(9). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07925
Hwang, Y. S., & Evans, D. (2011). Attitudes towards inclusion: Gaps between belief and practice. International journal of special education, 26(1), 136-146.
Jabatan Perangkaan (2022). Statistik Orang Kurang Upaya Malaysia. Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia.Putrajaya: Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia.
Juvonen, J., Lessard, L. M., Rastogi, R., Schacter, H. L., & Smith, D. S. (2019). Promoting social inclusion in educational settings: Challenges and opportunities. Educational Psychologist, 54(4), 250-270. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2019.1655645
Kelly, S. L. (1999). Perceptions regarding students with disabilities, testing and classroom accommodations for students with disabilities, and knowledge of recent laws concerning college students with disabilities on Tennessee State University's campus (Publication No. 3007610). ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/perceptions-regarding-students-with-disabilities/docview/304573190/se-2
Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia. (2015). Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015 - 2025 (Higher Education) https://www.mohe.gov.my/muat-turun/penerbitan-jurnal-dan-laporan/pppm-2015-2025-pt/102-malaysia-education-blueprint-2015-2025-higher-education/file
Khir, N. I. M., & Zakaria, S. M. (2023). antulah Kami untuk Rasa Selamat”: Cabaran Mahasiswa OKU di Universiti Awam. e-BANGI Journal, 20(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.17576/ebangi.2023.2001.24
Loveland, T. E. (2001). The inclusive classroom context: Interaction with and influence on the social competence of students with mild disabilities (Order No. 3038576). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (304698573). Retrieved from https://ezaccess.library.uitm.edu.my /login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdissertations-theses%2Finclusive-classroom-context-interaction-with%2Fdocview%2F304698573%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D42518
Magiati, I., Dockrell, J. E., & Logotheti, A. E. (2002). Young children's understanding of disabilities: the influence of development, context, and cognition. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 23(4), 409-430. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0193-3973(02)00126-0
Man, J. K. Y., & Khairuddin, K. F. (2020). Sokongan pembelajaran dan halangan pelajar berkeperluan khas di institusi pengajian tinggi. Conference of future education and advances (ICOFEA) (p. 410).
Moges, B. (2015). Perceptions of Students and Instructors Towards Students with Disabilities: Issues and Challenges in Implementation of Integration Program: International Journal of Innovative Social & Science Education Research, 3(1 & 2), 20–51.
Montserrat Roca-Hurtuna, & Sanz-Ponce, R. (2023). The Perception of University Students towards People with Disabilities and Their Labor Insertion. Education Sciences, 13(1), 79–79. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13010079 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13010079
Maras, P., & Brown, R. (2000). Effects of different forms of school contact on children's attitudes toward disabled and non?disabled peers. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 70(3), 337-351. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1348/000709900158164
Pernick, J. E. (1995). Attitudes of occupational and physical therapy students toward people with physical disabilities as determined by the ATDP scale (Order No. 1361483). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (304279989). https://ezaccess.library.uitm.edu.my /login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdissert ations-theses%2Fattitudes-occupational-physical-therapy- students%2Fdocview%2F304279989%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D42518
Stöckli, S., & Hofer, D. (2020). Susceptibility to social influence predicts behavior on Facebook. PloS one, 15(3), e0229337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229337
Thomson, C. (2013). Collaborative consultation to promote inclusion: voices from the classroom. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 17(8), 882-894. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2011.602535
Tregaskis, C. (2000). Interviewing non-disabled people about their disability-related attitudes: Seeking methodologies. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09687590025711
UNESCO. UNESCO Educación (2030): Declaración de Incheon y Marco de Acción. UNESCO; Incheon, Republic of Korea: 2016.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. (accessed on 18 October 2022). Available online: https://sdgs.un.org/#goal_section
Vignes, C., Godeau, E., Sentenac, M., Coley, N., Navarro, F., Grandjean, H., & Arnaud, C. (2009). Determinants of students’ attitudes towards peers with disabilities. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 51(6), 473-479. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2009.03283.x
Wehman, P. (2006). Life beyond the classroom: Transition strategies for young people with disabilities. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
Yusof, Y., Chan, C. C., Hillaluddin, A. H., Ahmad Ramli, F. Z., & Mat Saad, Z. (2020). Improving inclusion of students with disabilities in Malaysian higher education. Disability & Society, 35(7), 1145-1170. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2019.1667304
Copyright (c) 2024 Saadiah Juliana Saadun, Dilla Shadia Ab Latiff, Mohamad Shahril Mohamed Besir, Roslinda Alias, Mohd Faris Fikri, Jazmin Qistina binti Imran Nanang
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Author (s) should affirm that the material has not been published previously. It has not been submitted and it is not under consideration by any other journal. At the same time author (s) need to execute a publication permission agreement to assume the responsibility of the submitted content and any omissions and errors therein. After submission of revised paper in the light of suggestions of the reviewers, the editorial team edits and formats manuscripts to bring uniformity and standardization in published material.
This work will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) and under condition of the license, users are free to read, copy, remix, transform, redistribute, download, print, search or link to the full texts of articles and even build upon their work as long as they credit the author for the original work. Moreover, as per journal policy author (s) hold and retain copyrights without any restrictions.
