DEVELOPING GOOD PRACTICES TO FOSTER INCLUSIVITY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION SETTINGS. AN INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH

Adopting a multi-level governance-based approach, this article aims to provide a framework to foster inclusivity in higher education for students with disabilities. For this purpose, the analysis examines the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with a focus on the policy recommendations for persons with disabilities, identifying areas centered on facilitating access to education. At the regional level, the research focuses on the European Union standards on accessibility as formulated in the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030. At the national level, the analysis provides an assessment of the existent legal framework adopted in Romania, to determine how national standards can be developed relative to the global and EU policy frameworks. Finally, at the university level, the research outlines a set of guidelines for higher education that can be institutionalized to identify the systemic issues affecting students with disabilities and provide the necessary tools in order to develop an inclusive educational environment based in the principles of equity and representation.