Challenges Faced by University Students with Special Needs within the Higher Education System

Abstract

Promoting and protecting rights of people with disability leads to social equity. The purpose of this study was to examine problems' faced by students with special needs at higher educational institutes in Sri Lanka. A qualitative, descriptive study has been conducted at the University of Peradeniya from May to December, 2014. The purposive sampling technique was employed to select 26 respondents. A pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire and focus group discussions were used for data collection. The major concerns of the students were analyzed thematically, using descriptive statistics. The mean age of the sample was 22 years and the majority was Sinhalese females.