Page 143 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

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

science streams. The small number of SWDs who are admitted to the

universities through “special intake” are admitted only to the disciplines of
social sciences and humanities at universities and are allowed to offer only

a few selected disciplines such as languages, and history. That has a

negative impact on the job market opportunities for the SWDs after
graduation and on their lives in the long run.

Within the universities, physical infrastructure, teaching methods, facilities

for learning of SWDs, and evaluation methods are not conducive for them
to successfully complete their studies. Further, awareness of their

existence, needs, requirements and rights is not at a satisfactory level, and

there is a need for considerable improvement in the attitudes of both peers
and staff towards them.

A substantial proportion of the SWDs including those with visual, hearing,

and physical impairments come from low-income families. Therefore,

these families are not in a position to support these students with any
equipment or assistive technology that are not provided by the universities

and that will be useful in their studies.

It is recommended to improve the education and facilities for SWDs to
undertake their studies at universities, raise awareness of the existence and

needs of SWDs among all stakeholders, increase available facilities for
SWDs, conduct continuous professional training programmes on special

education for staff and peers, and establish suitable accommodation and

84