CHALLENGES FACED BY PERSONS WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES IN SEEKING EDUCATION IN QUAID-I-AZAM UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

Abstract

Persons with different abilities (PWDA) come across many obstacles in seeking education or during their academic career in inclusive educational settings. They have not proper facilities in accordance to their needs in these institutions. Furthermore, they have to face exclusion and discrimination from society in their paths of success towards education. That’s why primary focus of this research was to explore the challenges experienced by persons with different abilities in Quaid-i-Azam university, Islamabad in Pakistan. The study was carried out in Quaid-i-Azam university, Islamabad in Pakistan. Major objective of the study isthe exploration of academic barriers faced by persons with different abilities having visual impairments and physical disabilities. Besides, “Social Model of Disability” is used as a theoretical framework. Semi-structured interview guide was used as a source for data collection. Purposive sampling was used and 20 respondents were interviewed in which researcher has chosen 13 male respondents and 7 female respondents. Major findings revealed that the persons with different abilities confronted hurdles in transportation sector, infrastructure, orientation and mobility, information technology, attending lectures and note-taking and lastly in preparing assignments and taking examination. It was proposed that, persons with different abilities must be facilitated in accordance to their needs. Besides, training or awareness programs ought to be introduced on how to deal persons with different abilities effectively.