Disabling Campuses : The Development and Outcomes of Nigerian Disability Policies

The focus of this paper/study is to assess the accessibility of learning infrastructures and facilities of public educational institutions to students (living) with disabilities (SWD) in Nigeria. The objectives include examining the relevant policies on inclusive education system or program, identification of relevant buildings and infrastructures, determining the accessibility provisions in the buildings and the built environment and comparison of accessibility characteristics against the conventional standard. The study made on the basis of a case study approach and survey access audit checklist covers walking, visual and hearing impaired. The study found that accessibility to buildings and infrastructure in Nigerian Universities is poor and is worsening. Only the health buildings/centres/infrastructures are provided with ramps, definitely not because of the disabled but because of hospital stretchers. In this era of social integration, efforts should be made by policy makers and building and urban designers to incorporate all inclusive accessibility modes into planning and design of educational institutions to accommodate both able and the disabled for national development