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This paper explores the experiences of 14 inclusive STEM faculty members from five Spanish universities who taught students with disabilities. Their students with disabilities nominated them for having contributed to their success in their degrees. The article presents part of a larger qualitative study comprising individual interviews with faculty members. Data were analysed through an inductive system of categories and codes. The results show what the faculty did when they knew they had students with disabilities studying their subjects, how they valued their experiences with disability and what recommendations they would make to other colleagues regarding how to be more inclusive. The conclusions suggest that, in order to respond to diversity, faculty must be well-informed and well-trained, contact the disability office and plan the lectures in a proactive and accessible way, making reasonable adjustments. The experiences of these inclusive professionals can help other members of the university community to perceive disability as an opportunity to improve teaching practices, learn how to help their students with disabilities and design educational practices for all.

Through the voices of 100 Spanish teachers from Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary and Higher Education who carry out inclusive practices, this study explores the recommendations of these professionals for other colleagues to be inclusive. We conducted a qualitative multicase study using semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed through an inductive category and coding system. The findings are presented based on four topics: teacher planning, methodologies, ethical and emotional competences, and training. The results show similarities and differences between the guidelines given at different educational levels. This research provides practical lessons and it highlights that it is possible to be inclusive at any educational stage.

This article explores the beliefs of 25 Spanish primary education teachers who develop inclusive pedagogy when planning and implementing actions for all students. We used a qualitative methodology and the data were gathered through semi-structured and in-depth interviews. We analysed the data using an inductive coding system. The results revealed the beliefs of the participants about diversity and inclusive education, their professional self-concept, how they understood learning and their beliefs about their self-efficacy as teachers. These teachers showed a humanistic perspective that welcomes diversity and they felt responsible for the presence, learning, happiness and success of all their students.

This study explores conceptions of disability in education. Available evidence published in the scientific literature over the last ten years is reviewed, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria established. A total of 561 studies were found, of which 18 were included in this article. The topics are classified following a thematic analysis that include: (1) conceptions of disability among teachers and students in different educational stages and influence of conceptions of disability on attitudes and actions for inclusive education; (2) impact of training on conceptions of disability. This systematic review reveals that most of the studies coincide in identifying conceptions linked to the deficit or medical model, finding that these prompt negative attitudes that do not facilitate the development of inclusive education. However, as other studies point out, conceptions are dynamic, not static, and can be transformed through disability and/or inclusive education training.

This study provides a systematic review of the literature on what factors university students with disabilities recognise as necessary for their academic success. This systematic review was conducted in ERIC, Scopus and Web of Science. The opinions of 3854 students in a total of 31 qualitative and quantitative studies were analysed through a system of categories and codes. The results were organised according to the description of the studies (type of methodology, country and type of disability) and personal and external factors favouring success. Among the personal factors of students with disabilities who progress and remain at university, self-advocacy, self-awareness, self-determination, self-esteem and executive functioning stood out. Regarding external factors, the following were identified: family, disability offices, staff and faculty members, and peers that influence their academic success. This paper includes significant findings that universities can use to develop actions that promote the development of some of the factors identified in this study, thus favouring the learning and academic success of students with disabilities.

In this article, 119 faculty members from 10 Spanish universities who engage in inclusive pedagogy reveal some of the methodological and affective strategies they use to motivate their students, including those with disabilities, and help them learn. The study described is a qualitative one in which one semi-structured interview was held with each participating faculty member. A system of inductive codes and categories was used for the data analysis. The results revealed that faculty members believe in and trust the capabilities of all their students. They meticulously plan their syllabus to ensure practical learning, using a diverse range of strategies and providing continuous feedback. They also adopt a student-centred teaching approach and attach value to emotional and affective aspects, as an effective strategy for learning. The study helped identify a series of practices regarding the components and methods required for constructing inclusive university communities.

This article describes the beliefs, knowledge, designs and actions of primary education teachers who carry out inclusive pedagogy. We gathered the data using two semi-structured interviews. Twenty-five primary education teachers participated in the study, from eleven Spanish urban public schools. The results covered four topics: beliefs, knowledge, designs and actions for the learning of all students. We observed that teachers who apply inclusive pedagogy believe in the richness of diversity, use a student-centred learning approach, consider the affective and emotional aspects of learning, and base their teaching on active methodologies. This study provides examples of "good teachers" who may inspire others.

This article explores the experiences of graduates with invisible disabilities on how they define and assess their disability and how it influences their persistence and the completion of their studies. The study involved 29 graduates with self-identified invisible disabilities from Italian and Spanish universities. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data were analysed following an inductive category and coding system. According to the obtained results, the graduates considered that invisible disability was overlooked, as it goes unnoticed and is more difficult to detect or accept than a visible disability. They also thought of their own disability as being invisible. During their university studies, they faced difficulties such as a poor understanding of their disability and a general lack of social awareness, highlighting how stigma and stereotypes surrounded these disabilities. It was also evident that disability had a negative impact on their university studies, slowing down their trajectories and causing additional challenges, such as studying longer or accepting lower grades. The article concludes that social awareness-raising actions are necessary to promote positive perceptions of disabilities and to combat stereotypes and prejudices. It is crucial to stop viewing disability as a problem and to learn to recognise and celebrate diversity in society and within universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the barriers and supports to inclusive education identified by university students with disabilities in Spain. A qualitative methodology is used. Students identified several organizational and architectural barriers and supports in completing their degrees. The conclusions go back to the main ideas analyzed to discuss previous works; likewise, proposals for improvements are provided, such as the need to train faculty in inclusive education and universal design for learning and the importance of redesigning learning environments to make them more accessible.

This study focuses on the experience of 20 Spanish faculty members who teach students with disabilities. We conducted semi-structured individual and group interviews, and analysed the data using an inductive system of categories and codes. The results of this work describe the difficulties that faculty members encountered when including students with disabilities, and how they attended, through reasonable adjustments, to the educational needs of their students. Their testimonies produced a profile of professionals who recognise their own shortcomings while valuing the actions that they have undertaken in order to meet the needs of their students. From their perspective, these actions were more closely linked to their own willingness and the students' efforts than to the training they had received on disability. In this sense, the present study shows that universities must provide more meaningful training in the field of disability and make firm institutional commitments to supporting their faculty members.

The aim of this paper is to identify and describe the key traits of research with life histories. Previous studies on disability and my own work conducting research with the life histories and university experiences of students with disabilities help to explain how these key characteristics manifest themselves in practice. There are six traits inherent to research with life histories: (1) it is a type of research that prioritises listening to the voices of those who have hitherto been excluded from the scientific discourse; (2) subjectivity is recognised and valued; (3) the data analysis, in addition to structural, must also be narrative; (4) it is a type of research that aims to be more democratic, researching "with" rather than "on"; (5) life histories have an emancipatory dimension and seek to empower those participating in the research; and (6) ethics constitutes a vital part of the research. The paper concludes by offering final reflections which highlight the value of researching with life histories and suggests that another kind of research is possible.

The aim of this article is to analyze, from the academic staff's perspective, the training needs they require to provide an inclusive education to students with disability. Academics from a Spanish university participated in this research. We used a qualitative methodology. We collected the information through semi-structured interviews and open-ended written questionnaires. We analyzed data using an inductive system of categories and codes. Three topics were addressed in the results: profile of academics according to their previous training, the importance of such training for them and the reasons for training, and the contents considered essential for training. In the conclusions section, the need for universities to design and implement training policies was addressed. In addition, the participants stated that they would be more sensitive and better prepared if they received training on disability-related issues. A clear conclusion of this study is that inclusive universities require the involvement of everyone.

This article analyses the perspectives of faculty members on disability in higher education. Their testimonies give value to the attitudes and qualities of university students with disabilities and show how they influence their professional and personal development. We carried out a qualitative study, through interviews with 119 faculty members of different fields from 10 Spanish universities, who were nominated by students with disabilities for developing inclusive pedagogy. We conducted a progressive analysis of the data using a system of categories and codes. The results describe the motivations that drove the participants to respond to the needs of students with disabilities, the personal and professional impact posed by the challenge of adjusting the teaching and learning processes, and the perceptions of the faculty members toward the contributions of these students to the university. In the conclusions section, we delve into the need of universities to embrace inclusivity. The data provided by this study reveal that disability can be a valuable asset in a university context that dissociates from the deficit lens and acknowledges that all students are important and able to learn when the attitudes and conditions are appropriate.

In this study, we analyse the characteristics that define an ideal school, from the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities. we carried out an inclusive research qualitative study with 36 Spanish adults with intellectual disabilities. Information from individual interviews about educational inclusion was summarized on to notecards, allowing participants to place messages into categories on a poster board. Identified themes included facilities and resources; values and rules; intimidation; what students learn; how students learn best; exams; teachers; and classmates. Results highlight the importance of inclusive values and the need for a curriculum that meets the needs of all students.

Through the opinions expressed by 20 Spanish faculty members, this article describes the key elements of a blended learning training programme on disability. Qualitative evaluation was carried out using semi-structured group interviews and open-ended written questionnaires. Satisfaction with the training programme was analysed and its strengths (such as the suitability of blended learning and the inclusion of face-to-face sessions in which students with disabilities talked about their experiences) and weaknesses (such as the need for more training hours and more face-to-face sessions) were identified. As outlined in the conclusions, both the strengths and the weaknesses detected taught us valuable lessons, prompting us to think about possible actions that could be taken to ensure more effective faculty training.

This qualitative study draws from learning ecologies as a framework of analysis in order to explore the activities, resources and relationships practised by 25 Spanish faculty members who teach in the area of Education. Their students nominated them as inclusive faculty. Individual, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted. The results show that the activities, resources and relationships are multiple, diverse and learner-centred. This paper concludes that teaching student teachers involve being consistent and acting as a role model, by being coherent and an inclusive faculty in the university classes. These faculty voices provide recommendations on how universities should teach with a view to promote lifelong learning in which all students feel welcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article was to explore, from the perspective of students and graduates with disabilities, the skills that are necessary to be self-determined at university, why these are important, and how they can be developed to remain in university and graduate successfully. A systematic review, including 16 qualitative studies with a total of 303 participants, was carried out. The results provide information on: essential skills to facilitate self-determination and successful completion of university studies (problem-solving skills, learning about oneself, goal setting, self-management, self-advocacy) and attributes (autonomy, resilience, and empowerment); the reasons for being self-determined at university (achieving academic goals, overcoming barriers, demonstrating abilities, self-confidence, and academic success); and how self-determination can be learned at university (trial and error; family, faculty and peers; disability services; peers; specific programmes; and information technology communication). The conclusions are encouraging and show that self-determination can be learned in universities with the necessary supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the university experiences of 44 students with disabilities. The voices of Spanish students describe the reasons that lead them to choose a given university degree, their transition in the university, the perception they have of themselves as students and how they evaluate their academic results. This study was done with the biographical-narrative methodology using several different data collection techniques, such as narrative interviews, lifelines and photographs. Data analysis was based on an inductive coding system. The results of this study have enabled us to conclude that most of the students chose their degree course because they had a vocation for it, although their disability also influenced their decision. Some students had such a hard time during their first year that they had to change their course of studies. They thought they had to make a stronger effort than the rest of their fellow students, defined themselves as fighters and survivors, and valued this willpower as their main personal asset, above the outcome achieved.

The main topic of this article is architectural barriers and infrastructures as identified by university students with disabilities. The data presented is part of a much wider research project, sponsored by Spain's Ministry of Economy and Competition. A biographical-narrative methodology was used for this study. The results presented have been classified based on one of five barrier types: urban (barriers that are outside the actual university campus), transport (public transportation and personal vehicles), building (obstacles inside university buildings), environmental (those elements within the classroom, including furniture, excessive noise or inadequate temperatures) and communication (these are divided into signposting and barriers when accessing information). Lastly, a variety of questions are considered in the conclusions which indicate that universities still need a certain degree of adaptation and readjustment to really be accessible and inclusive, in keeping with the principles of universal design.

This systematic review explores the benefits and difficulties of using technology for the learning of university students with disabilities in both face-to-face and distance learning. Three databases were searched: ERIC, Scopus and Web of Science. The review included 14 articles that met all the inclusion criteria. All the included articles were qualitative studies involving 240 students and 143 faculty members. The data were analyzed using an inductive system of categories and codes. The results are organized around five themes: characteristics of the studies, technological resources most commonly used in university teaching, benefits of technology for learning, difficulties in using technology, and valuation of virtual teaching environments. The discussion and conclusions highlight the positive aspects of technology in the learning of students with disabilities, and warn of the need to improve faculty training and inclusive policies to ensure an effective and accessible use of technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The partial results of ongoing research in the "University Barriers and Aids Identified by Students with Disabilities" Project are presented. This four-year study (2011-2014) was carried out by a University of Seville research team with lecturers from a variety of fields and areas of knowledge (Educational Sciences, Economics, Health Sciences and Experimental Sciences). The general aim was to discover, from listening to the students themselves, barriers and aids they identified as affecting access, academic performance and overall perception of their higher education experience. The biographical narrative method, which allows the participants to talk freely about themselves without silencing their subjectivity, was used. This information was acquired by data collection techniques, such as in-depth interviews, observations, photographs and interviews with key persons in the life of each student. A structural analysis was implemented using an inductive system of categories and codes included in the MaxODA10 data analysis program. This study revealed the most personal and private feelings of the participants as they discussed such things as their perception as students, identification of disabilities or their strategies for facing "adversities". The discourse revealed higher education as a privileged scenario in which they are socially included and able to reinvent an identity that may have deteriorated during other stages of their education.

Implementing the principles of inclusive education within higher education can be challenging. Inclusive education was originally developed for younger students, prior to its application within higher education. However, as more students with disabilities successfully complete their early schooling, the need to move towards inclusive practices within higher education has increased. The purpose of this article is to offer thoughts on inclusive practices within higher education. The paper is organised into three sections: a description of the current situation of inclusive education in relation to students with disabilities in higher education; a review of the literature focused on students with disabilities and on faculty members within higher education; and a discussion of how moving the university towards an inclusive setting requires designing policies, strategies, processes and actions that contribute to ensuring the success of all the students.

This article presents the results of a project entitled, "Analysis of University Barriers and Aids Identified by Students with Disabilities," carried out in a Spanish University. The study used the biographical-narrative methodology, which emphasises the importance of people talking about themselves without silencing their subjectivity. Different types of data collection instruments, such as biographic interview, timelines and photography, were employed to acquire this information. The Results section presents proposals made by students with disabilities which could contribute to developing a more inclusive university. Some of their suggestions were that students with disabilities should be better informed and oriented, academic staff should be better trained to favour their educational inclusion, the settings and infrastructures should be accessible, and universities should be prepared to deal with people with disabilities. The conclusions discuss the main findings of the analysis, comparing them with other previous studies, and making some proposals that help universities progress towards inclusive education.

This paper presents an analysis of how lecturers respond to students with disabilities, the initial question being: do lecturers aid or hinder students? Findings pertain to a broader research project employing a non-usual research methodology in higher education research and students with disabilities: the biographical-narrative methodology. The general aim is to analyse--by listening to the students themselves--barriers and support identified as affecting access, academic performance and overall perception of the higher education (HE) experience. This paper focuses only on the role that lecturers play in the inclusive education of students with disabilities. Unlike other international research, this paper has explored the barriers and support differentiating between five fields of knowledge: Health Sciences, Experimental Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering and Technology and Humanities. As mentioned above, the present paper focuses specifically on one of the objectives of our research project: making an analysis of lecturer-centred data obtained by means of biographical-narrative methodology, by the first time in this field. [Paper presented at the Inclusive and Supportive Education IV Conference Congresso Internacional da Pró-Inclusão (8th, Lisbon, Portugal, July 26-29, 2016).]

The present study provides partial findings from research currently underway at the University of Seville: "Hurdles & Help as Perceived by University Students Disabilities". (Directed by Dr. Anabel Moriña, project funding: MICINN, I+D+I, ref. EDU 2010-16264). How does the university, as an institution, open doors and/or put hurdles in the way of students with special needs? The present study adopts a qualitative methodological approach. More specifically, biographic-narrative methods are employed to give shape to a series of life stories. A wide range of data gathering techniques were used, including discussion groups, in-depth interviews, classroom observation sessions, photographs, biograms, etc. Data analysis was carried out in two phases. In the first, the focus was on individual life stories. The second phase involved applying comparative data analysis methods to transcriptions of documents generated using aforementioned methods, in line with Miles and Huberman (1994). Maxqda10 data analysis software was the tool of choice. Results will be discussed with the following questions as a backdrop: Is the University "inclusive"? We will analyse institutional barriers and aids, as perceived by the students themselves. Architectural and structural hurdles affecting access to university classrooms, infrastructures and other spaces will be assessed here. Finally, we will take a closer look at student expectations with respect to their conception of the "ideal university". Is the University an institution that opens or closes its doors to students with disabilities? Based on the analysis in the previous section, a number of conclusions can be reached. The first and foremost is the fact that the students coincided in their opinions, independently of the disability they might have and the courses studied, both when identifying help and barriers. Having said that, the number of barriers identified surpassed the help. [Paper presented at the Inclusive and Supportive Education IV Conference Congresso Internacional da Pró-Inclusão (8th, Lisbon, Portugal, July 26-29, 2016).]

This paper pertains to a broader biographical-narrative research project which studies barriers and support as identified by students with disabilities at a Spanish University ["Barriers and Support That Disabled Students Identify in the University". Project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Dir. Dr Anabel Moriña; Ref. EDU 2010-16264, 2010-2014)]. The present study focuses specifically on barriers and support identified by students with disabilities enrolled in undergraduate programmes in the Social Sciences and Law. The purpose of this paper is to analyse, from the point of view of disabled students (applying the biographic-narrative methodology), which barriers and which support this group encounters in Higher Education. To this end, findings are organised in the following categories: general institutional data; infrastructure, architectural and accessibility-related data; faculty and teaching-related data; data relating to fellow students; and suggestions for improving the university and/or university classrooms. In the Conclusions section, we return to our earlier discussion of key findings which shed some light on how the University helps or hinders learning among participants in the study. From this perspective, taking as a reference the social model of disability, we conclude that in order to be inclusive, the University needs to commit itself to adopting proactive measures that eliminate the barriers that do not permit the learning and the full participation of the students in question.

Adequate policies for faculty training in diversity continue to be pending on the agendas of many universities. This paper presents the recommendations of 44 university students with disabilities not only for adequate faculty training, but also on informing them on both matters of the disability itself and how to respond to the needs derived from it. The data analyzed come from research funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness "University Barriers and Aids Identified by Students with Disabilities", which has been underway since 2011. A biographical-narrative methodology was used. The university life histories of the students were compiled by making use of in-depth interviews, lifelines and photographs. The conclusions of the study discuss the main results along with other previous studies, and recommendations are made so universities can provide training plans leading to inclusive education and learning.