Pathways: Navigating third level education for students with neuromuscular conditions
MDI’s latest report emphasises the urgent need for improved accessibility in Irish third level institutions. Inclusive Pathways: Navigating third level education for students with neuromuscular conditions highlights the challenges faced by students with neuromuscular conditions in accessing higher education.
The report makes several recommendations to government and policymakers based on the issues raised by individuals with neuromuscular conditions regarding their experiences with third level education institutions.
One of the key recommendations of the report is for more data to be published to support informed decision making in this area.
Commenting on the report Alan Breathnach, CEO of MDI said: “The experiences of people living with neuromuscular conditions are diverse and complex. However, a lack of publicly available data severely limits our understanding of these experiences. Currently, we do not even have concrete information on the number of people living with neuromuscular conditions.
“It is vital that the government are proactive and work with the relevant organisations and state bodies to gather and publish more data to support informed decision making. One way this could be done would be if third level institutions carried out accessibility audits. This would allow the institutions to identify any gaps or barriers on campus and put a plan in place to address them, therefore improving the accessibility of their campuses for people living with neuromuscular conditions.”
People with neuromuscular conditions highlighted a number of accessibility issues regarding their experiences with third level education. These issues included physical limitations but also extended to societal attitudes and systemic barriers that further hindered their access. They emphasised the need for infrastructure improvements and systemic changes to ensure inclusivity.
Further recommendations included in the report are a reform of financial supports to address barriers faced by individual students, and the introduction of tailored supports and on-campus accommodation for those wishing to avail of it; the application of universal design principles to all new buildings and consultation with disability stakeholders regarding new buildings; accessibility audits of all publicly funded institutions; and increased Government funding to allow third level institutions to put appropriate facilities and access points in place.
By implementing these recommendations, MDI believes that the education environment can become more inclusive and accessible, benefiting not only students with neuromuscular conditions but also enriching the educational community as a whole.
You can download and view a copy of Inclusive Pathways: Navigating third level education for students with neuromuscular conditions here