{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T09:42:59Z","timestamp":1791970979947,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"AOSIS","issue":"0","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,27]],"date-time":"2024-11-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1732665600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background:\u00a0Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in South Africa is often viewed as the \u2018Cinderella\u2019 of higher education, with many matriculating students choosing mainstream universities instead. This preference stems from stigma and misconceptions that label TVET students \u2013 often from poorer working-class backgrounds \u2013 as less intelligent than their university peers. The lived experiences of students with physical and learning disabilities in these institutions are particularly underexplored.\n\nObjectives:\u00a0This study aimed to illuminate the experiences of students with disabilities at five TVET colleges in Gauteng, South Africa.\n\nMethod:\u00a0Using a phenomenological approach, the study conducted story exercises and individual interviews with a convenience sample of 40 students with disabilities.\n\nResults:\u00a0The findings reveal that TVET education predominantly serves black students from marginalised backgrounds, with students with disabilities facing significant barriers in accessing both the curriculum and the physical environments of the colleges. Despite numerous challenges, a resilient narrative emerged among these students, rooted in African traditional values.\n\nConclusion:\u00a0This article contributes to knowledge on disability inclusion in higher education by showcasing the challenges and resilience of students with disabilities in South Africa\u2019s TVET system.\n\nContribution:\u00a0The study employed innovative methodologies, such as picture stories, to co-create knowledge with students living with disabilities.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/ajod.v13i0.1477","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,27]],"date-time":"2024-11-27T09:43:34Z","timestamp":1732700614000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Experiences of students with disabilities in technical vocational education and training colleges"],"prefix":"10.4102","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5967-1250","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Precious","family":"Muzite","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/048cwvf49","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3402-4268","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Velisiwe","family":"Gasa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/048cwvf49","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Animasahun, V.J., Harrop, T., Aird, J.J., Cameron, B., Howard, A. & Jani, P., 2021, \u2018Evaluation of an online journal club\u2013style course on evidence-based surgery for trainees of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa\u2019, East and Central African Journal of Surgery 26(3), 5\u201328.","DOI":"10.4314\/ecajs.v26i3.2"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bakow, B.R. & Low, K., 2018, \u2018A South African experience: Cultural determinants of ukuthwasa\u2019, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology 49(3), 436\u2013452. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022022117753546","DOI":"10.1177\/0022022117753546"},{"key":"ref2","unstructured":"Barrett, L., Pantoja, J. & Etulu, D., 2021, Henry\u2019s Hiccups."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bat-Chava, Y., 2000, \u2018Diversity of deaf identities\u2019, American Annals of the Deaf 145(5), 420\u2013428. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1353\/aad.2012.0176","DOI":"10.1353\/aad.2012.0176"},{"key":"ref4","unstructured":"Bell, D., 2011, Fotim Research project: Disability in Higher Education, Research Gate Publication, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chappell, P. & De Beer, M. 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