Engendering a conducive environment for university students with physical disabilities: assessing availability of assistive facilities in Nigeria

AbstractPurpose: This study assessed awareness and availability of assistive facilities in a Nigerian public university.Methods: Study was conducted in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife Nigeria using a mixed methods approach. Fifty two students with disability (SWD) were interviewed with a semistructured, self-administered questionnaire. A checklist was used to assess assistive facilities on campus while in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted with university officials, to assess their perspectives about the availability and use of assistive facilities in the university.Results: Almost three-thirds (57.7%) of SWD were male while more than two-thirds were aged between 21 and 30 years. About seven in 10 (71.1%) respondents, had mobility impairment, while two-fifth had visual impairment (40.8%) and a few had hearing impairment. Only the university’s administrative building had a functioning elevator. Slightly more than half (54.5%) of the lecture theatres have public address systems, while only two ...