Including young people with disabilities: Assessment challenges in higher education |
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| Authors: | Joan Hanafin Michael Shevlin Mairin Kenny and Eileen Mc Neela |
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| Institution: | (1) Education Department, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Republic of Ireland |
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| Abstract: | Within a European context, facilitating the increased participation of marginalized groups within society has become a cornerstone
of social policy. In higher education in Ireland this has generally involved the targeting for support of individuals representing
groups traditionally excluded on the grounds of socio-economic status. More recently, people with disability have been included
in this consideration. This approach has tended to focus on physical access issues and some technical supports. However, access
is multi-faceted and must include a review of pedagogic practices, assistive provision (technological and personal), student’s
engagement with their workload (e.g. recording) and evaluation procedures: achieving accreditation levels commensurate with
ability.
This small-scale Irish study examined the experiences of two groups of young people with physical disabilities and with dyslexia
in two higher education institutions. It was apparent that for students with physical disabilities and with dyslexia, assessment
practices were fraught with additional limitations. Assessment practices were mediated for these students through the physical
environment, the backwash effect of assessment on curriculum, the availability and use of assistive technology, and through
the attitudes of staff and students. It can be concluded that access issues within higher education have been inadequately
conceptualized and as a result failed to address fundamental issues around assessment for students with physical disabilities
and with dyslexia. |
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| Keywords: | Access Assessment Attitudinal issues Assistive technology People with disabilities |
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