Guest editors' introduction: Inclusive post-secondary education and persons with disabilities
| Published date | 01 June 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/13582291231173764 |
| Author | Mark Bell,Laverne Jacobs |
| Date | 01 June 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Guest Editor Introduction |
Guest Editor Introduction
International Journal of
Discrimination and the Law
2023, Vol. 23(1-2) 4–6
© The Author(s) 2023
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DOI: 10.1177/13582291231173764
journals.sagepub.com/home/jdi
Guest editors’introduction:
Inclusive post-secondary
education and persons with
disabilities
Mark Bell
1
and Laverne Jacobs
2
The articles in this special issue are derived from a 2 day, online conference held on May
5–6, 2022 organized by the Disability Rights Working Group of the Berkeley Center for
Comparative Equality & Anti-Discrimination Law in conjunction with the Law, Dis-
ability & Social Change Project, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor. As the Co-
Directors of the Disability Rights Working Group, we are indebted to all the
speakers and participants at the conference for their invaluable contributions.
Article 24(1) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
recognizes the right of persons with disabilities to education and states that this should be
realized without discrimination, on the basis of equal opportunity, and inclusive at all
levels (emphasis added).
Article 24 sets out several fundamental dimensions to realizing the right to education,
including at the post-secondary level. For example, Article 24(1) establishes many of the
qualitative goals that persons with disabilities will be enabled to achieve through the right
to education, such as the full development of human potential, a sense of dignity and self-
worth, and a student’s creativity and talent. Article 24(4) addresses, in part, the need to
train teachers, professionals and staff to support persons with disabilities in their edu-
cational journey at all levels of learning.
Article 24(5) is specifically addressed to post-secondary level education:
States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access general tertiary
education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning without discrimination
and on an equal basis with others. To this end, States Parties shall ensure that reasonable
accommodation is provided to persons with disabilities.
Post-secondary education plays a pivotal role in the bridge between education and
employment. It is correlated with higher rates of employment and progression to higher
levels of occupational responsibility. In an evolving labour market, lifelong learning is
1
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
2
University of Windsor, Canada
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