Disability and study: layers of management

Disability and study: layers of management

The findings of this paper are based on a 3-year study of students registered with disability services at an Australian, regional university between 2008 and 2010. The concept of self-management, in its various dimensions, was a key theme emerging from the study. We argue that participants in our study employ 'layers of self-management' in the pursuit of success in their studies at university. The first layer is a 'negotiation of self ' in which students manage their sense of self-efficacy and their identity as students, and as individuals in a social setting. The second layer is their 'management of self,' which involves the way they appear to others, as well as the impact of impairments, work, and families. The third and final layer is their 'management of others,' which involves managing the perceptions of others, as well as interacting with others as part of managing institutional processes and procedures. As part of our analysis, we examine the relationship of these layers of self-management with concepts such as Lifelong Learning, which enable us to position participants on a traits and capacity continuum with other student groups.

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