Pathways to the World of Work for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education

NTNU, with the Department of Mental Health and Department of Neurology and Movement Science, is in the last year of the project Pathways to the world of work for students with disabilities in higher education. The project will give new and practical knowledge of the conditions that promote or prevent both universal and adjusted study progress for students with disabilities. The project has an innovative and participatory approach aiming to strengthen the university’s and collaboration partners’ capacity for development and change. Higher education is among key factors that promote work participation. In Norway, every fifth student with a disability considers the support received from public authorities/educational institutions, as insufficient. Conditions in study environments can create visible and invisible barriers throughout the course of education, and barriers created by disability itself. Educational institutions report difficulties with adapting learning environments for a growing student population with a variety of disabilities. Pathways to work through higher education are often challenging, and the number of young people with disabilities without work is increasing. In sub-project 1, a literature study has been conducted on the content in interventions where students with and without disabilities are in ambassador roles in higher education. The study shows a lack of research within the area, and that students with disabilities represent unused resources in ambassador roles. An ambassador program has been developed in close collaboration with students with disabilities. In the second study the processes that take place when students with disabilities in higher education engage in the co-creation of the content in the ambassador program are studied. The student ambassadors have accomplished several actions, e.g., presentations for other students and higher education employees, developed a check list for inclusive lectures, and meetings with key stakeholders at the university. Two student ambassadors are also co-authors in the scientific work with publications. Further, the ambassadors are going to participate as advisors for students with disabilities and will contribute with increased quality and accessibility for students with disabilities in higher education and on the pathways to work. In the second sub-project, processes of cocreation and co-learning have been accomplished through 17 student forums for students with disabilities and 6 collaboration forums for different key stakeholders including students with disabilities, The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation (NAV), Universell*, NTNU Drive (experts on developing pedagogical platforms and methods), and university staff at NTNU. In the different forums, the stakeholders have discussed conditions and circumstances that promote or hinder pathways through higher education to the world of work for students with disabilities. The analysis of the forum transcripts is underway and will be used to write three scientific articles that will be submitted to journals during 2023. The third sub-project focuses on attitudes and courses of action among employees in Norwegian higher education institutions and NAV regarding students with disabilities in higher education and their transition to work. A systematic literature review has been conducted and findings were used to inform the design of two surveys: one with employees in Norwegian higher education institutions and one with NAV employees. These surveys asked the participants to evaluate vignettes that described fictional students with and without disabilities who had varying needs and characteristics. The two surveys have been completed, and the writing of two scientific articles which report the findings will be submitted to journals in the first part of 2023. In addition, 4 group interviews have been completed with employees in higher education institutions and 4 with NAV employees) which followed up on the findings from the surveys. The analysis of the interview transcripts is underway and will be used to write two scientific articles that will be submitted to journals during 2023. A master’s project has been accomplished in relation to the main project. The master’s project has studied the experiences of students with invisible disabilities regarding digital learning platforms under the pandemic. A scientific article is written from this project and has been accepted for publication. Various conferences have been arranged including both previous and new collaboration partners. A final conference is under planning for Autumn 2023. The project group has received grants for two new applications for widened collaboration, one to work with universal design and inclusive education in selected courses at NTNU and the secon to support the start-up of a student organization for students with disabilities. This organization is a concrete, student-led initiative that has arisen from sub-project 1

The project will provide research-based knowledge to strengthen competencies in inclusive higher education and work for students with disabilities, for the Social Education and Occupational Therapy programs, NAV, Universell and the research field. Within the educational field and NAV, there is a need for strengthening the ability to meet the the challenges and possibilities related to inclusion in higher eduaction and work for students with disabilities. The project will approach the research area in innovative ways, will use a variety of methods, and will have strong emphasis on user involvement; from being part in the project group, to active participation in the WP1 and WP2, and in presentation of results. Based on the aim of the project, three work packages have been designed. WP1 will focus on the need and development of an Ambassador Program in health and social education programs among students with disabilities, and thus how students can support students in higher education. WP2 will focus on how relevant stakeholders in the project can collaborate and co-create for quality in higher education. WP3 will focus on the perspectives of academic staff, NAV and employers on inclusion in education and work for students with disabilities. The impact of the project: 1. Improved Social Education and Occupational Therapy programs when it comes to inclusion in higher education for students with disabilities 2. The educational system and NAV will have new knowlegde and comptences when it comes to higher education and work inclusion for students with disabilities, and enables them to transform these competences into innovative practices 3. increased research competencies among academic staff in Social Education and Occupational Therapy programs and among students who participate in the project. NTNU will be the project owner