Counselling needs of students with disability in inclusive universities in Ghana

Abstract

The study examined the counselling needs of students with disability in selected inclusive universities in Ghana. The study concentrated on assessing the academic, career, and personal-social counselling needs of students with disability. University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, and University of Education Winneba were chosen. With 155 respondents, a mixed study methodology employing the embedded design was used. It was a census survey. An interview guide and a questionnaire were used to collect the data. Quantitative data were analysed using both descriptive statistics (frequency distributions and percentages) and inferential statistics (one-way analysis of variance). The qualitative data from 12 respondents sampled through convenience sampling were analysed using a thematic approach. The study found out that students with disability in inclusive universities in Ghana were aware of their counselling needs (career, academic and personal-social) but there was a lack of these services on their campuses. Students with disability also had several challenges that hinder them from accessing counselling services. They suggested that for their counselling needs to be met, counsellors who are specifically trained to help students to meet these needs must be made available. Also, telephone conversations should be made an alternative means of addressing the counselling needs of students with disabilities. It was recommended that career guidance and academic discipline fairs should be organised for students with disability during students’ orientation programmes in their respective universities.