Accessibility of academic libraries for students living with disabilities in selected South African Universities

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorShongwe, Mzwandile
dc.contributor.authorDu Toit, Sarah
dc.date.accessioned2025-11-10T08:06:03Z
dc.date.available2025-11-10T08:06:03Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.updated2025-11-10T08:02:26Z
dc.description.abstractGrounded in the social model of disability (Oliver, 1990), this study assessed the accessibility of academic libraries for students living with disabilities (SWDs) in selected South African universities. Academic libraries are central to higher education, yet systemic, physical and technological barriers often hinder access for students with mobility and visual impairments. The study investigated how academic libraries facilitate accessibility and inclusion for these students by evaluating their ability to engage with library services without assistance. The research adopted a qualitative multiple case study design, focusing on two South African universities: the University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eighteen participants, comprising four library staff members and fourteen SWDs, alongside non-participant observation and document analysis. Non-participant observation was conducted in various library spaces to examine the accessibility of building entrances, service desks, computer workstations, signage, shelving arrangements and the availability and use of assistive technologies. The analysed documents included UCT's Disability Policy (2021), Transformation Report (2023), and Disability Policy Council Report (2022), as well as UWC's Policy on Students with Disability (2007) and Library Annual Report (2021). The study was guided by the following key objectives: to examine the accessibility measures currently implemented in academic libraries, evaluate existing policies supporting physically and visually impaired students, identify physical and non-physical barriers to access and assess the role of library staff and assistive technologies in creating inclusive learning environments. Findings revealed that while various accessibility measures and assistive technologies are available, gaps remain in the areas of infrastructure, staff training and institutional policy implementation. Contributing factors included financial constraints, limited awareness and inconsistent institutional commitment. The study recommended the development of formal accessibility policies, dedicated funding for accessibility initiatives, targeted training programmes for library staff and structured feedback mechanisms to strengthen inclusive service delivery. This research contributes to the discourse on disability inclusion in higher education and offers recommendations for improving academic library services for SWDs in South Africa.
dc.identifier.apacitationDu Toit, S. (2025). <i>Accessibility of academic libraries for students living with disabilities in selected South African Universities</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Library and Information Studies Centre (LISC). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42161en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDu Toit, Sarah. <i>"Accessibility of academic libraries for students living with disabilities in selected South African Universities."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Library and Information Studies Centre (LISC), 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42161en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDu Toit, S. 2025. Accessibility of academic libraries for students living with disabilities in selected South African Universities. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Library and Information Studies Centre (LISC). http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42161en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Du Toit, Sarah AB - Grounded in the social model of disability (Oliver, 1990), this study assessed the accessibility of academic libraries for students living with disabilities (SWDs) in selected South African universities. Academic libraries are central to higher education, yet systemic, physical and technological barriers often hinder access for students with mobility and visual impairments. The study investigated how academic libraries facilitate accessibility and inclusion for these students by evaluating their ability to engage with library services without assistance. The research adopted a qualitative multiple case study design, focusing on two South African universities: the University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eighteen participants, comprising four library staff members and fourteen SWDs, alongside non-participant observation and document analysis. Non-participant observation was conducted in various library spaces to examine the accessibility of building entrances, service desks, computer workstations, signage, shelving arrangements and the availability and use of assistive technologies. The analysed documents included UCT's Disability Policy (2021), Transformation Report (2023), and Disability Policy Council Report (2022), as well as UWC's Policy on Students with Disability (2007) and Library Annual Report (2021). The study was guided by the following key objectives: to examine the accessibility measures currently implemented in academic libraries, evaluate existing policies supporting physically and visually impaired students, identify physical and non-physical barriers to access and assess the role of library staff and assistive technologies in creating inclusive learning environments. Findings revealed that while various accessibility measures and assistive technologies are available, gaps remain in the areas of infrastructure, staff training and institutional policy implementation. Contributing factors included financial constraints, limited awareness and inconsistent institutional commitment. The study recommended the development of formal accessibility policies, dedicated funding for accessibility initiatives, targeted training programmes for library staff and structured feedback mechanisms to strengthen inclusive service delivery. This research contributes to the discourse on disability inclusion in higher education and offers recommendations for improving academic library services for SWDs in South Africa. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Academic libraries KW - students living with disabilities KW - accessibility KW - inclusion KW - assistive technology KW - South African universities KW - qualitative research LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - Accessibility of academic libraries for students living with disabilities in selected South African Universities TI - Accessibility of academic libraries for students living with disabilities in selected South African Universities UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42161 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/42161
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDu Toit S. Accessibility of academic libraries for students living with disabilities in selected South African Universities. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Library and Information Studies Centre (LISC), 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42161en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentLibrary and Information Studies Centre (LISC)
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectAcademic libraries
dc.subjectstudents living with disabilities
dc.subjectaccessibility
dc.subjectinclusion
dc.subjectassistive technology
dc.subjectSouth African universities
dc.subjectqualitative research
dc.titleAccessibility of academic libraries for students living with disabilities in selected South African Universities
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_hum_2025_du toit sarah.pdf
Size:
2.45 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.72 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters