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SPECIAL ADJUSTMENTS IN THE SLOVENIAN HIGHER EDUCATION

SYSTEM

The Slovenian Association of Disabled Students

Alenka Bera, Nataša Mauko

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• There is no specific national policy for supporting disabled students in higher education.

• There is no definition of disability in the Higher education act.

• There is no special funding for supports or special arrangements which higher education institutions should provide.

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• On the institutional level, each higher education institution has its own procedure for granting the status of a disabled student.

• The institution lists the documents the student needs to provide to prove his/her disability or long term illness.

• Status is granted either for one academic year or the whole academic course.

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• Adjustments and supports depend greatly on: – how many disabled students study at a

specific faculty, – how successful these students are in

advocating for their rights and – how understanding the academic and

management staff are about equal opportunities in higher education.

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Forms of special arrangements

• help in reading exam questions or writing exam answers in a special room,

• use of assistive technology,

• breaking up larger exams into smaller units,

• taking the exam on an individually agreed exam date,

• longer time to complete the exam,

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• taking a written exam by using a computer or other accessible device,

• using the help of a third person to write down exam answers,

• using a reader to read out exam questions,

• individually agreed deadlines to submit seminar papers, home assignments, reports,

• taking a written exam orally,

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• taking an oral exam in written form,

• alternative forms of exam papers (electronic, large or Braille print),

• having a sign language interpreter during the exam,

• having breaks during the exam,

• taking certain assignments in pair with a non-disabled student,

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• adjustments in practical assignments, • electronic study materials on-line, • compulsory reading lists available in advance

so that students have enough time to arrange alternative forms (electronic, audio, large or Braille print) of these materials,

• using an audio recorder to record lectures or seminars,

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• using a sign language interpreter during lectures,

• submitting written works in electronic form,

• doing certain assignments form home (a type of distance or e-learning)

• adjusting work placement programmes to the abilities and needs of the student.

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Adjustments in the library:

• longer deadlines to return loaned materials,

• possibility to take out materials which are available for in-library use, when they need to be adapted or the student uses special devices for reading which are not available in the library,

• help in searching and locating library materials

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According to certain institutional regulations, disabled students also have the right to:

•lower attendance at lectures, seminars due to medical checkups, hospitalization, treatment or rehabilitation,

•progressing to the next academic year if they meet at least 50% of the study requirements,

•prolonging the student status for a whole academic year, if the disability prevents the student to meet all study requirements in the current academic year.

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• Recent study showed most academic staff are familiar with architectural barriers.

• Partly familiar with difficulties of reading print for the visually impaired.

• But are not so much aware about the implicit barriers in their teaching methods.

• All said they would talk to the student about his/her needs and exchange experiences with colleagues.

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• Other forms of support, such as personal assistance, adapted transport, adapting study materials in accessible forms, etc. are offered by different disability organizations.

• Study assistance and in rare cases adaptation of study materials is provided by student tutors.

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• In most cases the services are free for the disabled student or they pay a symbolic contribution.

• They are financed as projects, therefore the funding is not permanent, meaning not all services are always available and are coordinated among different users.

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THE SLOVENIAN ASSOCIATION OF DISABLED STUDENTS

www.dsis-drustvo.si info@dsis-drustvo.si

Alenka Bera Nataša MaukoAlenka@dsis-drustvo.si Natasa@dsis-drustvo.si +386 41 632 865 +386 31 564 349