Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Higher Education in Chile: Scope and Challenges

Abstract

The objective of the research was to understand university policies on inclusion from the discourses of those responsible for managing such policies and of students with disabilities in three Chilean universities, to explore their scope and main challenges. The study was conducted from a qualitative approach, with a case study design, conducting semi-structured interviews and focus groups with four heads of inclusion units and twelve students with disabilities from three universities in the city of Santiago. It is noted that, beyond national and international regulations, only some institutions have effective strategies to facilitate inclusion, recognizing the lack of data to systematize its progression and make decisions for improvement. The results show important tensions and contradictions between policy discourses and the experiences and perspectives raised by students with disabilities in higher education in Chile.