THE EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN GEORGIA

This study is part of a research project aimed at exploring the challenges of students with disabilities at Georgian universities.The present paper focuses on the perspectives of students with disabilities.Qualitative research was conducted at four Georgian universities, involving 13 students with disabilities from the target universities.Data collection utilized semi-structured faceto-face interviews and focus group discussions.Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Triangulation of the primary data, relevant university documentation, and local and international publications were applied.The research reveals that despite a strong legislative framework, students with disabilities face significant physical and social barriers globally; these challenges are more pronounced in countries like Georgia, where higher education systems are underfunded, disability-related services are limited, societal awareness of disability issues is low, and educators lack competencies in inclusive education.The study underlines that Georgian Higher Education Institutions experience systemic barriers to inclusion, underrepresentation and invisibility of students with disabilities, and a lack of institutional support systems.To enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of higher education institutions in Georgia, it is essential to address the interrelated factors of university, educational, and social policy, which currently hinder the realization of inclusive education.