A decade of the Disability Support Service (DSS): closer to Europe in terms of equal opportunities

Mission

Ensuring equal opportunities in access to education in line with the modern approach to disability

Priorities

• As wide access to mainstream education as possible

• Philosophy of equal rights and obligations

• Support offered as advanced services compensating for disabilities

The Disability Support Service’s target groups:

• Blind and partially sighted university students• Deaf and hard of hearing students• Students with restricted mobility• Students with mental health and neurological conditions• Students with specific learning difficulties• Students with other disabilities• Applicants for addmission to the Jagiellonian University• Academic and administrative staff of the Jagiellonian University

• Supporting students in the educational process (learning and teaching)

• Access to educational materials

• Assistive technologies

• Disability awareness

DSS

student

academic

staff

Academic model of educational support

Our offer for Jagiellonian University disabled students includes:

• Organisation of courses and exams in adapted forms• Development of educational support strategies• Co-operation between disability consultants and academic teachers• Mediation of the Disability Support Service with other University units• English language classes for blind, partially sighted, deaf and hard of

hearing students• Counseling in terms of advanced technological solutions and adapatation

of teaching materials to electronic of Braille formats for blind persons• Specialist training, e.g. on handling and use of assistive technologies• Physical education classes adapted to the individual requirements of the

disabled participants

IT room for blind and partially sighted users

Multimedia room for language classes

Outcomes of DSS operation

• Development of assistive services in line with European and international standards

• Effectiveness of educational support

A Jagiellonian University student

in the Scottish Parliament

• Increasing the level of disability awareness amongst University employees• More disabled students

1999 2009

• Number of students: 30 • Number of students: 459

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1999 rok 2009 rok