IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: Study and Career Counselling for VI students in Denmark Persons with Visual Impairment as Physiotherapists – International Seminar in Helsinki, Finland, June 16 – 17, 2014

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: Anne Bjørkmann Career Counsellor The National Institute for the Blind and Partially sighted Denmark Telephone:

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: Counselling and guidance Public Placed at the educational institutions At IBOS we have an extra service We give support to blind and partially sighted students in high school and in higher education

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: Courses concerning choice of study programme We discuss their educational interests Their aims – their dreams Where will they have to compromise Where will they have to fight Sometimes we have to make an investigation to secure that the students chose is possible to go through To secure that it is possible to work in large parts of the labour market relevant to the specific education.

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: Counselling during their study programme Introductory meeting at the University with teachers Counselling concerning Use of Assistive Technology and instruction in their use, Use of educational materials for VIP Secretary Help and practical support. The Practical training periods Exemtions from Exams Studying abroad

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: Career counselling The transition from University to labor market What are my rights? How do I present my visual impairment in the Job application? Good advices from an employer Mentor guidance

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: History Since 1943 blind and partially students have been educated as physiotherapists in Denmark In the sixties and seventies there was a "fight" between the teachers and the organisations for the blind. No visually impaired students were educated in that period. The headmaster supported the teachers who were sceptical In 1974 a commission was set down to explore the possibilities for the blind students to be educated as physiotherapists In 1975 the conclusion was that a support committee was set up and the School of Copenhagen where all the blind students were educated got a special grant to pay a fulltime teacher for the blind students

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: History Until 2001 there was a cooperacion between The School of Copenhagen and IBOS IBOS provided the students with a preparation course before they started and supported them during their studies The grant disappeared in 2001 when The Act on Special Educational Assistance for Higher Education entered into force The conclusion of the School of Copenhagen was that they could no longer educate blind physiotherapists. Since then no blind students have been educated Today the partially sighted students are educated all over the country

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: VIP in education and work From 2002 until students with VI started the education 3 stopped before they finished 7 is in education 6 is working as a physiotherapist 1 is without job

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: The clinical placements Based on interview with six students and 2 counsellors from the Universities. Two got extra support hours as compensation for disability At one of the Universities the VI students count for two All students used assistive technology Some take a meeting with the Clinical Educator beforehand, others don’t The University request that the student write or call the Clinical Educator beforehand to tell about their VI They all tell the patients about their VI

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: Challenges Big hospitals – difficult to get around and to find things Gait analysis, the overview, take care of fragile patients, Neurological patients – the communication Psychiatry – difficult to read face and body language To train a large group of people

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: Challenges Attitudes, scepticism from the clinical educators Zoomtext often does not work with the Journaling programs Transportation Self confidence, fear, lack of creativity

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: The future Can blind persons work as physiotherapists in DK in the future? In the ideal world: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (article 24 and 27) National legislation Creativity In practice Systems as a barrier (taximeter system, provider numbers) Scepticim, negative attitudes

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: Discussion “5. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access general tertiary education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning without discrimination and on an equal basis with others. To this end, States Parties shall ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with disabilities.” (from article 24 in UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) What does “on equal basis” mean in practice? Examples. What is “reasonable accomodations” for VI students in the clinical placements?

IBOS - Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede Rymarksvej 1, 2900 Hellerup T: Thank you for listening