Work

Using the new disability human rights paradigm to create higher education leadership opportunities

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: Driven by anti-discrimination laws and a desire to promote human rights, universities have made strategic efforts to support their students with disabilities and provided some support to their staff with disabilities. However, persons with disabilities are not visible in senior leadership positions in universities. It is time for change. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has established new human rights expectations that require representation of persons with disabilities across all of society, and at all levels, at percentages which reflect their proportion within the population. Even though States are slow to introduce regulatory reforms to transform society and realize ability equality, some in the higher education sector are seeking to go above compliance and move their institutions, and the broader sector, to a more inclusive place. This paper maps out the efforts led at one Australian institution to use existing structures in disability discrimination laws to provide leadership opportunities for persons with disabilities as a blueprint for further change.

Source: International Journal of Discrimination and the Law

DOI: 10.1177/13582291231169668

Authors: Paul Harpur, Brooke Szucs

Institution: The University of Queensland

Language: English

Topic: Disability Rights and Representation

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000