Disabled Students Seeking Higher Education in Kashmir: A Study of their Experiences

Abstract

The present study aimed to understand the experiences of disabled students while gaining higher education in Kashmir. According to the conference on the ‘Rights of Persons with Disability’, Article 24, 2(a), disabled persons should not be barred from broader education organizations due to their disability. Besides, the ‘Millennium Development Goals’ and ‘Education for All’ insist on justice, equality and quality education for all. Yet, like in other societies, in Kashmir too disabled people face a large number of obstacles while attempting to achieve higher education. The study was conducted on 21 disabled students studying at the University of Kashmir during the year 2018. The results revealed that disabled people face a large number of obstacles while accessing education and come across a vast amount of challenges such as experiencing harassment, being excluded from the university, lack of institutional support, accommodation, financial support, seminars and infrastructure and facilities necessary to obtain benefits from the equivalent quality of education as their colleague.