Nursing Students with Disabilities: One Faculty's Journey

Abstract

Legislation requires universities to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities to facilitate their access to post-secondary education. In the case of professional programs, educators must think beyond the classroom and consider the implications for clinical practice. The nature of some students' accommodations prompted concerns about the students' ability to meet program expectations. This paper describes the explorations and actions of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Nursing regarding working with undergraduate nursing students with disabilities. The paper includes a summary of literature, strategies adopted to facilitate access to nursing education for students with disabilities, and issues that require further attention.