From Self-Doubt to Self-Belief: The experiences of mature students with disabilities in Higher Education in Ireland

Introduction

Higher Education, both in an Irish and global context, has undergone significant changes in the past thirty years. One such change is the increase in participation of groups who were previously excluded from Higher Education, such as those with disabilities and mature students. Many studies have focused on the learning experiences of students with disabilities and mature students as two distinct groups; however, few have looked at the experiences of older students with disabilities or learning difficulties in Higher Education. Further, within the Irish context, little has been written on this area and there does not seem to be any peer-reviewed research papers looking at the experiences of this group of learners. Supporting this particular group of students is essential. A key aspect of getting this support right is understanding mature students with disabilities’ experiences in college. This paper draws on a master’s research study which looked at the experiences of mature students with disabilities in an Irish Higher Education setting, using an arts-based narrative approach.