DEVELOPING THE UNIVERSITY AS A MODEL FOR AN INCLUSIVE ORGANIZATION FOR ALL PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Abstract

The universities worldwide are increasingly called upon to transform into inclusive organisations that genuinely accommodate persons with disabilities (PWDs). The current study is entitled as, Developing University as a Model for an Inclusive Organisation for All Persons with Disabilities: Challenges, Opportunities, and Way Forward. This conceptual and evidence-based review brings together the results of various empirical studies in the Pakistani and Colombian higher educational context, to explore the hurdles in the inclusive transformation, the potential opportunities in structure and pedagogy and a strategic path forward for developing the & fully inclusive higher education institutions for PWDs. Some of identified problems are lack of infrastructure, lack of appropriate training of faculty, attitude of the staff and lack of policy implementation. Opportunities include use of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), development of inclusive organizational culture, faculty commitment and the development of effective monitoring of the policy implementation. In this connection, the analysis provide significant information for reaching the desired outcomes as used for making decisions about the research issues in the particular context. A five-pillar change model is suggested, involving policy, infrastructure, pedagogy, culture and accountability. The paper continues the international conversation about equity of the higher education and examines the reasons why inclusion of PWD is not only a compliance requirement, but also an institutional domineering that are more beneficial for entire higher education community.