THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF LIFE SKILLS AMONG DISABLED STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: AN OVERVIEW

Life skills are indispensable competencies that facilitate the successful resolution of personal, academic, and professional challenges. Life skills, including communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and emotional regulation, are essential for the development of autonomy, employability, and social inclusion in students with disabilities in higher education. Despite the implementation of progressive policy frameworks such as the RPwD Act (2016) and NEP 2020 in India, disabled students continue to encounter substantial obstacles, such as infrastructural inaccessibility, exclusionary pedagogical practices, attitudinal barriers, and inadequate student support services. Nevertheless, there are new opportunities that are emerging as a result of inclusive education policies, assistive technologies, peer mentoring, and skill-based programs. This investigation, which is predicated on qualitative and descriptive secondary research, investigates the technological, pedagogical, and structural factors that influence the development of life skills among disabled students in higher education. It emphasizes both the barriers and the facilitating practices, and it offers suggestions for developing skill-oriented and inclusive educational environments. The paper promotes a multi-stakeholder approach to guarantee that disabled students can flourish in both their academic and social pursuits.