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Cited by 53Disability Education and EmploymentDisability Rights and RepresentationInclusion and Disability in Education and Sport

Disabled student experiences of Higher Education

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Brewer, Gayle, Urwin, Emily, Witham, Beth·2025·Disability & Society
DOI 10.1080/09687599.2023.2263633
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Abstract

Disabled students remain systematically disadvantaged compared to their non-disabled peers.It is, therefore, essential that educational practitioners and policy makers appreciate the complexity of the disabled student experience.In the present study, we identified 60 online forum posts (and 31 replies to the posts) discussing personal experiences of disability and Higher Education.Online posts (and their replies) were subject to inductive thematic analysis and six themes were extracted from the data.These themes were (i) impact on education, (ii) isolation from peers, (iii) seeking advice and support, (iv) barriers to assistance and accommodations, (v) impact of accommodations, and (vi) providing guidance and support.Recommendations for practice focus on the practical and social support required to ensure that disabled students are neither marginalized nor disadvantaged. Points of interest• We identified 60 online forum posts (and 31 replies to those posts) discussing personal experiences of disability and Higher Education.• We searched the posts for common themes and six themes were extracted.• Themes were (i) impact on education, (ii) isolation from peers, (iii) seeking advice and support, (iv) barriers to assistance and accommodations, (v) impact of accommodations, and (vi) providing guidance and support.• Findings demonstrate the value of online forum data.• We provide several recommendations for practice (including greater provision of both practical and social support) to ensure that disabled students are not disadvantaged.

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  • Generative AI can scaffold reading for students whose disabilities, particularly dyslexia, make text processing slow or error-prone.

    “Generative AI can scaffold reading for students whose disabilities -dyslexia in particular -make text processing slow or error-prone (Brewer, Urwin, & Witham, 2023; Schiavo, Mana, Mich, Zancanaro, & Job, 2021; Tamdjidi & Billai, 2023).”

    From The Use of Generative AI by Students with Disabilities in UK Higher Education: A Mixed-Methods Survey of 125 Students (2025) · cites this paper as Brewer, Urwin, & Witham, 2023

    The Impact on education section says disabled students may need additional time to process information, and the Introduction mentions assistive technology as a learning accommodation. But the paper does not say that generative AI scaffolds reading, or specifically link dyslexia to slow or error-prone text processing. Its discussion of AI concerns disability-disclosure administration, not reading support (Impact on education; page unavailable). (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Accessing technology is a complex process for disabled students because of issues around stigma, visibility, or disclosure.

    “First, accessing technology is a complex process for disabled students considering issues around stigma, visibility, or disclosure [18]”

    From Rethinking “Empowering Technology” in Higher Education Accessibility: A Case Study of Disabled Students’ Experiences at a German University (2026) · cites this paper as [18]

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Authors
Brewer, G., Urwin, E., & Witham, B.
Affiliations
University of Liverpool (GB)
Corresponding author
Brewer, Gayle
ORCID
Brewer, Gayle
Venue
Disability & Society
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2023-10-02
Volume
40
Issue
1
Pages
108-127
ISSN
  • 0267-4645 (ISSN-L)
  • 0968-7599
  • 1360-0508
DOI
10.1080/09687599.2023.2263633
OpenAlex
W4387246028
Cited by
53
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1
FWCI
13.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Disability & Society (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Disability Education and Employment
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Disability Rights and Representation
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport
Keywords
students with disabilities, higher education, student experience, online forums, peer isolation, disability accommodation, barriers to support, social support, practical support, student guidance, marginalization

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