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Barriers to inclusive higher education in Thailand: voices of blind students

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Abstract

Higher education for disabled people is an important factor that can improve their living standards in the long run but, in Thailand, little is known about the interplay between inclusive higher education practices and disabled students. This article, therefore, sets forth a qualitative method for investigating barriers that affect the inclusive higher education participation of blind students. Findings drawn from face-to-face interviews with 12 blind students clearly indicate that unfriendly physical environments on campus, lecturers’ inaccurate understanding of inclusive education, and inclusive higher education policy inconsistencies limit their active learning opportunities. The author recommends that senior university administrators introduce sharply tailored interventions to adopt universal design concepts, appropriate academic adjustments, and campus-wide inclusive practices that contribute to supporting the educational achievement of blind students.

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Funding

Funding was provided by School of Political Science and Law, Burapha University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Administration, School of Political Science and Law, Burapha University, 169 Longhard Bangsaen, Saen Sook, Muang District, Chonburi, 20131, Thailand

    Theeraphong Bualar

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  1. Theeraphong Bualar
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Correspondence to Theeraphong Bualar.

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Bualar, T. Barriers to inclusive higher education in Thailand: voices of blind students. Asia Pacific Educ. Rev. 19, 469–477 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-017-9512-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-017-9512-7

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