Conference YOU + I = TOGETHER Position of disabled students at the University of Primorska Dr. Roberto Biloslavo September, 2009

I. The issue of students with special needs at Slovenian universities

The view of the conference of the Slovenian university rectors on the issue of equalising study possibilities for disabled students - The March 2009 meeting ended with the observation that the position of disabled students currently varies from university to university, for each higher education institution settles the issue at its own will. Why? Because the current Higher Education Act does not determine the status and the rights of these students. - The conference decided that its members will do their best to standardise procedures and policies with the aim of assuring equal rights for disabled students. - The conference called upon the ministry of higher education, science and technology to provide legislative regulation of the issue, primarily regulating the status of a disabled student and providing funding for necessary study adjustments.

Universities have different rules governing the status of a disabled student Formal difficulties: - varying terminology, which results in confusion in determining the status of a student with special needs, - lack of standard procedures in acquiring the status. Systematic difficulties: - inadequate architectural adjustments, - inadequate studying and examination adjustments, - inadequate lecturer competence, - disrespecting the needs of students with special needs when preparing study programmes, - inadequate funding.

II. University of Primorska and the status of a student with special needs

Number of students with special needs at the University of Primorska Faculty / memberNumber of students with special needs Faculty of Humanities Koper (UP FHŠ)9 Faculty of Management Koper (UP FM)2 Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences etc. (UF FAMNIT) / Faculty of Education Koper (UP PEF)3 Faculty of Tourism Studies Portorož-Turistica (UP FTŠ-Turistica) 5 College of Health Care Izola (UP VŠZI)2 Type of special needs: 5 physically impaired 3 deaf and hard of hearing 3 blind and visually impaired 9 with chronic or long term disease 1 student with mental health disability

The University of Primorska aims to: - ensure appropriate spatial and technical conditions for implementing education, schooling and training programmes, including provision of adjusted means of transport; - provide an adequate number of experts and basic instructions in teacher and counsellor training programmes; - provide reading material and teaching equipment, corresponding to the type of disability; - provide appropriate equipment for individual learning;

- ensure the right to additional communication equipment needed due to functional impairment; - provide support in the form of individual help, monitoring and counselling for disabled students; - provide practical training and traineeship during university with stimulation for employers; - ensure physical help to all who need it, including the functionally impaired (currently, help is intended only for physical impairment);

- provide a scholarship arrangement, which will encourage the disabled to higher education attainment; - provide adequate accommodation for disabled students; - encourage disabled student exchange under ERASMUS programme; - develop and promote lifelong learning of disabled adults, unemployed as well as employed.

Measures taken with the aim of ensuring inclusive education at the University of Primorska Systematic measures: -Rules on students with special needs at the University of Primorska (adopted in 2008) -Tutoring system -Modification of the application form for study programme accreditation with stated special study adjustments for students with special needs

Formal measures of the University of Primorska: Calling upon the ministry to: -Adjust the application form for study programme accreditation in terms of special study adjustments for students with special needs, -To prepare, with the help of the Slovenian Association of Disabled Students, the criteria for adjusting study programmes to the needs of students with special needs. At the request of the ministry of higher education, science and technology, the University of Primorska has submitted the information on envisaged financial consequences of adjusting university study programmes.

The procedure of acquiring the status of a student with special needs at the University of Primorska The following forms and documents are needed: -Application for acquiring the status -Supporting documents showing disability or disorder, like: - decision of the National Education Institute, expert opinion of the commission for guiding students with special needs and opinion of the expert commission for classification of children and adolescents, or, - decision of the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute, proving disability in accordance with the Pension and Disability Insurance Act (Official Gazette, 106/99) or, - medical certificate issued by a specialist doctor.

The application form and supporting documents are to be submitted at the University of Primorska office. The application is considered by the UP senate commission for student affairs together with an expert (specialist doctor or expert in working with children with special needs), which renders decision on allotting the status.

Special adjustments for students with special needs include: -Preparing individualised programmes: a tutor – teacher prepares an individual support programme for every single student with special needs, -Presentation and implementation of individualised programmes: after adopting the individualised programme, the tutor – teacher presents it to other teachers involved in the disabled student’s study programme, -Providing adjustments at lectures and exercises, -Adjusting examination procedures, -Providing adjustments in the library.

Thank you for your attention! Taking part in preparing the presentation: -Frenk Mavrič -Irena Kuntarič Hribar