Students with disability face a number of barriers in attaining equality in education in the tertiary education sector. These include:
pathways between secondary and tertiary education are not well-supported or coordinated. Training and preparation for post-secondary education usually commences in the last few years of secondary school and transition supports are not often maintained;491
university and higher education courses are limited in accessibility in terms of physical access, the accessibility of the curriculum and teaching materials and the mode of course delivery.492 This is particularly the case in rural and remote areas;
limited supports are funded and provided to assist people with disability to attend university and higher education, including participation in the student social activities resulting in students with disability often having to arrange and fund their own support and feeling socially excluded;493 and
the cost for people with disability to enter university and higher education is often not recognised. For example, the costs incurred as a result of requiring additional resources or adjustments is not automatically provided by educational institutions and are not funded by the government.494
Case Study
Anna has vision impairment and attends university. Unfortunately she has had to repeatedly withdraw from classes at university. On at least five occasions accessible materials arrived too late for her to complete her assignments and she was unable to complete the course.495
