Inter-Agency Research Project
NDSA has been assisting with an inter-agency research project that aims to highlight the experiences of disabled learners in tertiary education in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
This project has been a collaboration between the National Disabled Students’ Association, the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and the Tertiary Education Commission.
The key focus of this project has been to gather qualitative data that authentically represents the voices and lived experiences of disabled students in tertiary education. This was conducted through both an online survey, and focus groups across the country with students.
Literature Review
This literature review was written by our research assistant Ash Beales, with support from the interagency team. This review brought a clear perspective to the background information at hand on the experiences of disabled students, and helped inform the following steps of the project: an online survey and focus groups.
Initial Findings Poster
This initial findings poster showcases a preview of the results of the research including the online survey and focus groups. Highlighting the most important findings. This poster represents a major milestone in showcasing clear data on the barriers faced by disabled students in tertiary education.
Key insights included:
Levels of support for disabled learners are inconsistent across their learning providers.
Accessing support is difficult for many disabled students.
Barriers to inclusion in the wider student experience are common.
The power dynamics within tertiary providers make advocacy difficult for disabled students.
Final Report
The final report is now available and can be found on the education counts website. We thank all the involved staff across NZQA, MOE and TEC for their collaboration and support on this project. The results can also be accessed in audio, braille and easy read formats.