Barriers and facilitators of access to higher education in a weakly institutionalised context: perceptions of disabled students
Malinovskiy S. Shibanova E. Movkebayeva Z.
2024Routledge
Disability and Society
2024#39Issue 92258 - 2280 pp.
This research investigates the barriers and facilitators of access to higher education for disabled students in Kazakhstan, based on 23 biographical-narrative interviews with undergraduate students. Despite the broad regulatory framework, support institutions for disabled persons are not sufficiently enforced and are not internalised in regular practice in Kazakhstan. Students with disabilities are unaware of actual barriers, universities’ support services and infrastructural capacity. They make a loosely informed choice of the first safe option, as the territorial proximity and opportunity to receive a state grant are the principal priorities. In the context of weakly institutionalised post-secondary transition, interpersonal relationships and self-determination are the key facilitators. Role models of significant others and assistance of relatives and peers act as a substitute for formal supportive institutions at each transition point. We assume that reducing territorial barriers and proactive informing can be the most efficient for improving accessibility.
access to higher education , Disabled students , inclusion , Kazakhstan , post-secondary transition
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Institute of Education, HSE University, Moscow, Russian Federation
Resource Advisory Center for Inclusive Education for Universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Institute of Education
Resource Advisory Center for Inclusive Education for Universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan
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