How to support students with disability could enhance inclusion at University and student’s future independent living Disability Awareness – New Challanges for Education Krakow 23 October 2009 Elisa Di Luca Disability Support Service, University of Padova, Italy

University of Padova Established in 1222, is one of the oldest University in the world students 13 Faculties and 65 Departments 104 three-year Degree Courses 79 Higher Degree Courses 7 one cycle higher degree courses in healthcare and education Employs 2358 Teaching Staff 2279 Administrative Staff

Disability and University Who supports students with disabilities at UP Rector’s Delegate for Disability Disability Commission (named by the Rector): Rector’s Delegate, Teaching staff, Head of the Regional Body for Supporting the Right to Higher Education, 2 students representative of student union, 1 representative of students with disability Faculty Referees: 13 teachers supporting the Disability Support Office mainly for admission counselling and study support service Disability Support Service: 4 full-time staff, 1 Librarian, 2 drivers, 2 Sign Language Interpreters

Statistics on students with disabilities in Italian Universities (CNUDD and University of Padova) How many –0.5-1% of Universities population (8500 to ) 60% self-declared / 40% not declared ImpairmentsCNUDD (0.38%) Padova (0.7%) –Mobility I. 34% 44% –Sensorial I. 17% 20% Visual (10%) (10%) Hearing (7%) (10%) –Other 49% 36% Recently identified disabilities: –Behavioural disorders –Processing disabilities (Dyslexia – Head injury)

CNUDD National Conference of the Delegates (of Rectors) for Disabilities Guidelines (based on Law 17/99) Accessibility of the Universities (architectural barriers) Counselling Peer Tutoring and study support International Mobility Stage and Job Placement Role of the Delegate Information Technologies Disability Support Services

Students with disability 2008/2009

Supports of DSO of UP Basic: Exemption and reduction of University fee Accessible accommodation (2 domotic apartments) Architectural Barriers Specific: Counselling and choice Assistance and Transport services Support to students with hearing impairment: sign language interpreters, transcription service and FM technologies Study support Assistive Technologies Library service International Mobility Stage and Job placement

Assistance and Transport Service Transport Service -Mainly for students with a mobility impairment (8 am to 18 pm) -3 adapted van driven by 2 drivers and volunteers Assistance -Mainly for students with mobility and visual impairment -Students can reach all Department and Faculties that are spread all around the city, administrative and student’s office, Libraries and University Canteen

Supports for students with Hearing Impairment Sign Language Interpreters Students can have a Sign Language Interpreter during classes and for all accademic activities Transcription service with stenotype Transcription of teacher’s speech during classes. Students can read subtitles during the lesson and at the end can have a word file saved on a pen drive. FM Technologies provided by the Disability Support Office to use during classes

Study support To help students to learn a new study method more specific for University studies (students with disability in Italian High Schools have very often a “supporting” teacher to help them during classes) This is a peer support and senior students are specifically selected and before strating their activity they have to attend 20 hours course

International Mobility Programs Organization of an annual meeting on international mobility programs available at the University of Padova (Erasmus, Leonardo, bilateral agreements etc) Support in filling in forms (application, accommodation, request of special funds etc.) Organization of their stay (assistance, special transport service, nursing service, assistive technologies) in collaboration with the hosting University

Erasmus students with severe disabilities

Library of the DSS support in bibliographical research inside and outside University Libraries Transform, with the help of volunteers, printed books into digital books and Braille Update our on-line digital library where students with disabilities (print disabled) can download the books they need to study At the Disability Support Office there is a Digital Library with a specialized librarian to help students with:

Assistive Technologies At the Disability Support Service there are: a computer room equipped with assistive technologies, a Multimedia room and a room where they can study Students can have: - laptops for classes and examinations - assistive technologies for the whole accademic year - computer with hardware and software for blind and with low vision students in all University Libraries and language laboratories - interactive blackboards in some Departments

Wheelchair Basket Team This is a project connected with students with disabilities’ participation to sport activities and in general to broaden the knowledge of paralympics.

Case study Student with 100% mobility impairment while in the 4th year of Odontoiatry (5 years) Problems: to guarantee frequency at courses while in the hospital to guarantee that the student could continue the same degree without loosing the professionality acquired to guarantee frequency of compulsory technical laboratories in the Odontoiatric Clinic

Case study Solutions and support: -Sensibilization of teaching staff and classmates -Notes delivered in the Hospital with all the didactical material -Evaluation of special needs and decision to try the use of a special electrical wheelchair only for technical laboratories

Case study Foto di proprietà del dott. F.Pedretti DIMENSION ABCDEFGHIL ,54745,542,5 58

Case Study Results Disability Support Service bought the wheelchair with some adaptations for student’s specif needs Student could continue the career even though with some limitations Teaching staff at first suggesting a Faculty change helped the student organizing a placement in a public hospital

Case study Description 44 years old student with a severe mobility impairment (spastic tetraparesys) Living with his mother Financial support from National Health Service (not properly used) University career started in the past but never completed (lack of support services) No autonomy in writing and eating Dysarthrias

Case study Support First meeting (student, teaching and disability staff): assessment of needs and organization of support Meeting with Local Social Service (family situation and given support)

Case study: support Personal care support (LSS and Professional organization) Study support (DSO), note-takers and tutors Transport (local taxi service and LSS) Accompanying (DSO), volunteers of National Civil Service and German objectors Books in electronic format (DSO throught Editors or specialized centers for blinds) Exams adapted to students needs (DSO and teaching staff)

Case study Results Positive accademic results More self confident Increased IT abilities Ability to understand needs and limits of his disability Desire of autonomy and independence

Rethinking of goals Universities should: Increase contacts with Local Social and Health Service to improve the support to all the students Adapt teaching and assessment methods: - extended time - assessment organized in small parts of the course program - increse activities to stimulate cognitive functions

Social Community

Rethinking of goals Disability Support Service should: train tutor and volunteers on support to adult with disabilities too organize training on assistive technologies get in contact with Social and Health Service to cooperate in the support program and, eventually, to provide personal care provide updated information on how to obtain support and facilities (e.g. assistive technologies) from the Health Service and help students going throught administrative procedures

Conclusion Universities have an important role in the social inclusion of people with disabilities and particularly for adults and foreigner. This role has been increasing with the growing number of adult students. While for youngsters is important to get a future employment, for adults, in our experience, plays an important role to remove or to contrast the lack of autonomy, the social exclusion and the tediousness of life usually supported by the National Pension Scheme.