by Abdi Omar Aden,York University
Executive Summary:
This paper investigates higher education opportunities for refugees with disabilities in the Dagahaley refugee camp (Dadaab, Kenya) with an emphasis on inclusivity, parent support, resource availability, barriers, and recruitment processes. The study employed qualitative methods to uncover existing tertiary opportunities for persons with disabilities, while exposing the challenges they encounter. The research included interviews with high school graduates who had no tertiary opportunities and with those who had received scholarships in Kenya from international non-governmental organizations and donors. Participants highlighted the problem of accessibility to scholarships and lack of opportunities for persons with disabilities in higher education. The recruitment process for higher education was quite restrictive and highly competitive, based largely on high school grades. Participants suggested ways to make recruitment more accessible to persons with disabilities. Access to tertiary education for refugees with disabilities in Dadaab is still immensely challenging, despite its value in strengthening skills and expertise for refugees.
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