Through the lens of disabled students: How we access and engage with higher education in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

This chapter presents findings from an accessibility audit undertaken by disabled students on a university campus in Aotearoa New Zealand. The audit captured disabled students’ experiences as they engaged with learning, teaching and social campus spaces. Despite government and institutional policy, commitments, and discourse, the authors highlight the everyday barriers that may be overlooked and explore their experiences of access and mobility, as well as inconsistent accommodations that can lead to stigma, social exclusion, and concern for safety. Importantly, the chapter situates findings within Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and Māori perspectives on disability, acknowledging the need for culturally responsive solutions. This chapter illuminates the complex accessibility challenges faced by disabled students but also serves as a powerful tool for advocacy and change. By centring disabled students’ voices and experiences, this work contributes to calls for change in how educational institutions conceptualise and implement accessibility measures, moving beyond compliance-based approaches toward more comprehensive understanding of accessibility as a human right.