Page 140 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

University of Ruhuna ISSN: 2706-0063
Matara, Sri Lanka

Among the suggestions for improvement of SWDs’ studies at universities,
providing more opportunities to improve Information Communication

Technology (ICT) and English skills, offering financial assistance, guidance

to follow postgraduate degrees, and upgrading existing services and
facilities in accordance with local and international treaties and conventions

were notable.

According to the responses received for the attributes, peers of all
universities were highly supportive of the academic rights of SWDs. 97%

showed a high willingness to extend their support to mobilise them
physically and 90 % enjoyed interacting with them in their studies. From

the sample, 81% and 85% of peers of University Peradeniya (UoP) and

SLTC, respectively did not know about the existence of SWDs in their
classes. However, peers of Ruhuna (46%) and Eastern Universities (44%)

were more familiar than UoP and SLTC. The majority of the UoP peers did

not feel comfortable sharing rooms with SWDs.

Only 30% of the peers were aware of the existence of an SNRC in their
respective universities. Prior to entering the university, 67% of them had

some form of contact with SWDs. Overall, 61% of the peers in the sampled
group have had some encounters with SWDs in their universities. The

highest observed type of disability among the SWDs in class according to
the peers was Blind/Visually impaired (43%). Of the overall sample of

peers, 69% felt that they were comfortable in learning with SWDs in class.

Of the sample, 84% of the peers were willing to obtain training on facilities
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