An investigation into the attitudes of staff at North West University (Mafikeng Campus) towards the inclusion of students with disabilities : deconstructing psychological barriers towards the inclusion of students with disabilities

Abstract

This was a descriptive study focused on identifying attitudes of University staff towards the inclusion of students with disabilities at University within the context of a focus on psychological wellness. A probability sample of 93 staff members was selected through systematic random sampling from the-Mafikeng Campus of North West University. A questionnaire identifying attitudes of staff towards inclusion of students with disabilities and factors contributing to the development of attitudinal barriers was designed and administered by the researcher. The literature reviewed identified the following factors as barriers to the inclusion of students with disabilities at university: inadequate understanding of disability, negative attitudes, stereotyping, inadequate support services and insufficient knowledge and experience of students with disabilities. The central hypothesis was that the existence of negative attitudes amongst staff would inhibit the inclusion of students with disabilities at university. The results obtained correlated with the hypothesis and implicit in these findings is the threat to the healthy psychological development of students with disabilities.