ERIC Number: EJ1471570
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1354-4187
EISSN: EISSN-1468-3156
Available Date: 2024-12-11
'People with Intellectual Disabilities Can Really Go to Uni, They Can Study, They Just Need That Extra Assistance'--Stories of People with Intellectual Disability Experiencing University in Australia
Matthew Turnbull1; Angela Ho2; Fiona Rillotta1; Mary-Ann O'Donovan2; Nadia Willis1; Greta Westermann2; Nikki Wedgwood2
British Journal of Learning Disabilities, v53 n2 p312-323 2025
Background: This paper was written by researchers with and without intellectual disability working in two Australian universities. Each university has an inclusive programme. The co-researchers were former students of these programmes. The reason for this study was to find out what people in these two programmes did while they were at university, what they liked and disliked about their experience and what they have been doing since they finished university. Methods: Researchers recorded conversations about university experiences with 10 current and former students of the two programmes and five participants' family members. From this, the students' 'journey' to, through and after university was co-written by a pair of researchers with and without lived experience. These stories were reviewed by a team of people with lived experience. In this paper, five journeys are presented as well as a summary of what was reported across all 10 stories. Findings: The study found that participants had a positive experience at university and developed self-confidence. They enjoyed learning and having choices in their learning. Some students reported feeling included, meeting new people, having good relationships with mentors and having positive involvement with university clubs. Others reported difficulties making friends, feeling unaccepted or not fully included in all parts of university life. Some programme graduates went on to paid employment or other learning. Not all students felt supported with the move to other opportunities after university. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of including people with intellectual disability as researchers and advisors in studies about people with intellectual disability. The study also shows more needs to be done within these programmes to help students develop genuine relationships at university beyond the programmes. More needs to be done to ensure new friendships continue after leaving the programme. Students also need to be better supported on their post-university journeys.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Students, Students with Disabilities, Intellectual Disability, Student Experience, Inclusion, Student Attitudes, Student School Relationship, Self Esteem, Learner Engagement, Interpersonal Relationship, Mentors, Clubs, Friendship, Peer Acceptance, Outcomes of Education, College Graduates
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia; 2CDS, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia