A Study on the Differently-Abled Students in Lady Doak College

Abstract

People with disabilities form a significant part of the world population. The exact number is hard to discern due to suspected underreporting and differences in the definition of disability between countries, and cultures. It is estimated that approximately 650 million people of the global population or ten percent of the total population, live with disability. The experience of people with disability varies depending on their personal circumstances, availability of resources and other external factors. Similarly, students with disabilities represent an emerging population in the institutions for higher education whose perceptions and experiences of higher education are
ultimately shaped by their socio-cultural experiences, the existing environment, and the availability of specific facilities required by them. Despite notable progress in legislations and policies for these students in the institutions for higher education, many of them still face various challenges in completing their studies successfully. This study aims to explore factors or barriers which affect the social and educational experience of students with disabilities in Lady Doak College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu.