ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews scholarly work describing the experiences of students with disabilities in South Africa since 1994, when a democratically elected government took office. Disability issues in South Africa must be understood in the context of apartheid. During apartheid, students with disabilities in South Africa were excluded from the education system. One of the greatest challenges faced by students with disabilities within South African higher education is access. Disability Units provide some of the services required by students with disabilities in South African higher education. South African literature also reports on students with disabilities and their perceptions of the conduct of lecturers. While assistive technology enhances access to learning for students with disabilities, at times it excludes students. Scholars have looked at the experience of students with disabilities from two angles. Some scholars have focused on a single impairment, while other scholars explore the experiences of students with varied impairments.
