Campus Landscape Environment for Student With Disabilities (SwDs): The Case of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Gombak Campus

The awareness regarding students with disabilities (SwDs) in campus of higher educational institutions has been increasing. This paper investigates the planning and design of campus landscape environment which facilitates both able-bodied and disabled students. This paper aims to identify conditions of the campus landscape and their suitability for the disabled students. One issue identified is that some registered disabled students could not properly access the provided facilities, such as the library and the cafeteria, due to physical restrictions including the existence of stairs. Preliminary studies have identified challenges in providing accessible built environment in higher educational institutions. The analyzed reviews comprising of design guidelines and suitable landscape designs have been applied to suit the needs of SwDs in the campus landscape environment. The paper provides a platform to discover the needs of SwDs, especially in campus environment, based on the type of disabilities and it is important to understand the needs of SwDs before making any decisions. The method of data collection used in this study is the qualitative approach based on case studies, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and access audit simulations. The expected outcomes of this study will contribute to design guidelines for outdoor campus landscape, thus allowing the management of universities in Malaysia to upgrade outdoor campus facilities as a whole. The findings also provide a platform for the related organizations to identify the needs of the disabled students so that better planned and designed facilities and services will ensure the survival and independence of these students during their campus life