Despite increasing commitments to inclusive education, disability often occupies an uncertain position within higher education institutions, where it is acknowledged rhetorically but weakly embedded in academic governance and everyday practice. This paper examines how disability is framed, organised, and enacted across Indonesian universities, focusing on the institutional logics that shape inclusion rather than on the effectiveness of specific services. Drawing on qualitative interview data from eight universities representing diverse institutional types and regional contexts, the study employs a cross-case thematic analysis informed by critical disability perspectives. The findings show that disability becomes institutionally visible mainly through specific mechanisms such as administrative procedures, assessment processes, performance indicators, or informal interpersonal networks. Responsibility for inclusion is widely dispersed and frequently shifted to students, lecturers, or non-authoritative units, positioning inclusion as an individual or moral obligation rather than a shared institutional responsibility. Inclusion is often enacted through compliance-oriented practices or short-term initiatives, with limited attention to pedagogical transformation. Notably, institutions with strong expertise in special or inclusive education display a paradox in which disciplinary knowledge does not translate into coherent university-wide systems. The paper argues that meaningful inclusion requires repositioning disability as a core institutional concern embedded in academic policy, governance, and teaching practices.

Authors:
Pujaningsih Pujaningsih, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Nur Azizah, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Lauren Stentiford, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
George Koutsouris, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
Eleni Dimitrellou, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
Zizheng Yu, University of Exeter, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Pujaningsih, Ed.D., is Program Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Special Education at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Her work focuses on inclusive education, UDL, MTSS, and disability rights in Indonesia and Asia.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pujaningsih-959737206

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