Www.dsis-drustvo.si SPECIAL ADJUSTMENTS IN THE SLOVENIAN HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM The Slovenian...
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Transcript of Www.dsis-drustvo.si SPECIAL ADJUSTMENTS IN THE SLOVENIAN HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM The Slovenian...
www.dsis-drustvo.si
SPECIAL ADJUSTMENTS IN THE SLOVENIAN HIGHER EDUCATION
SYSTEM
The Slovenian Association of Disabled Students
Alenka Bera, Nataša Mauko
www.dsis-drustvo.si
• 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.
www.dsis-drustvo.si
• 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.
www.dsis-drustvo.si
• 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.
www.dsis-drustvo.si
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,
www.dsis-drustvo.si
• 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,
www.dsis-drustvo.si
• 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,
www.dsis-drustvo.si
• 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,
www.dsis-drustvo.si
• 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.
www.dsis-drustvo.si
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
www.dsis-drustvo.si
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.
www.dsis-drustvo.si
• 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.
www.dsis-drustvo.si
• 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.
www.dsis-drustvo.si
• 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.
www.dsis-drustvo.si
THE SLOVENIAN ASSOCIATION OF DISABLED STUDENTS
www.dsis-drustvo.si [email protected]
Alenka Bera Nataša [email protected] [email protected] +386 41 632 865 +386 31 564 349