Support and Inclusion of students with disabilities at higher education institutions in Montenegro – EU practices and policies for the inclusion of disabled students in Higher Education Podgorica 18/04/12CONFERENCE 2012

Policy and Legal Context at EU level UN CRPD Article 4: promote the training of professionals and staff Article 5: reasonable accommodation Article 8b: awareness raising Article 24: inclusive education system EU TFEU Charter on Fundamental Rights Disability Action Plan: equal access to education EU2020 E&T2020 Lifelong Learning FP7 PROGRESS Member States policies and legal frameworks Podgorica 18/04/12

Problems/Needs of students with disabilities in EU Access – disabled YP’s less likely to apply for HE More disruption to studies; course changes; higher drop- out rates Finance –disabled students cost higher than non-disabled Mobility – layout; space; access; transport Pedagogic – technical support for visual and hearing impairments; dyslexia; learning disabilities Pastoral – stress levels greater; isolation; discrimination Lack of representation Low level of awareness Low level of professional skills and training Transitions – e.g. to work – more difficult Podgorica 18/04/12

Support provision Varies from country to country In most countries, HEI’s responsible – more voluntary than mandatory Preferential enrolment (Portugal; Greece; Hungary; Germany; Norway; UK) Financial – combination of ‘block’ grant to HEI’s + personalised individual packages Access and mobility – ramps; wheelchair access; transport Technical/Pedagogic – photocopies; tape recordings; transcriptions; braille documents; e-exams; note-takers; signers Disability officers – less developed Staff training - less developed Awareness-raising and networking - less developed Podgorica 18/04/12

Persistent problems and Gaps in provision HE sector more scope for interpretation of laws and policy than school sector – variability in level and quality of support Definition – e.g. ‘reasonable accommodation ‘Hidden disability’ – difficult to estimate numbers who don’t apply or don’t register – lack of reliable data and monitoring Not enough focus on transitions Not enough effort on awareness-raising and staff development Poor representation and active involvement of students with disabilities Podgorica 18/04/12

EU Good Practices Ratification and support for UN CRPD Over-arching policies promoting equality in education (EU2020; ET2020) Major funding programmes (LLP; FP7; PROGRESS) At member state level Access (e.g. SWAP; Flemish Social Dimension in HE; French Active Guidance Policy; UK Widening Participation; Spain Inclusive Campus; Ireland DARE) Support on Entry (German Studentenwerke; Norway Universell Service) Supporting Study and Progress (French Social Criteria Grants) Podgorica 18/04/12

EU: Provision and Gaps 03-05/7/12Kotor Meeting

EU: Implementation Good Practice 03-05/7/12Kotor Meeting

EU: Implementation Good Practice 03-05/7/12Kotor Meeting

Key results Policies in place - ratification of the UN Convention and Protocol; ‘Strategy of integration of the persons with disabilities’; ‘Law of prohibition of discrimination of the persons with disabilities’. But insufficient implementation in practice. Public awareness relatively under-developed. Numbers and type of YP with disabilities who are prevented from applying for higher education not clear. In Montenegro, only around 20 PWD officially registered in HEIs. But unknown quantity not registered, or don’t consider going to University /7/12Kotor Meeting

Key results-2 Support to improve accessibility within the built environment variable. Lack of integration between the different education sectors Lack of qualified special needs education professionals and facilities for training professionals are under-developed. AYDM plays a vital role, but its work requires more integration with government and HEI agencies. The use of ICTs to support students with disabilities in HEIs is currently under-developed. Financial support for students with disabilities is variable. Podgorica 10/12/12

Priorities for the future in Montenegro Priority Area 1: Definitions and Awareness: focusing on the gaps between policy and practice; lack of clarity in level of need; low level of public awareness Priority Area 2: Financing: addressing fact that funding provision is neither coherent nor systematic; promoting more effective collaboration between government, HEIs and NGOs Priority Area 3: Systematic Support: promoting better co-ordination between government Ministries; standardisation in entry, assessment and certification procedures; mainstreaming personal support; co-ordination of support activities; central database of resources; co-ordinating monitoring and evaluation; expanding and standardising ICT tools and assistive technology; support for transitions between school, university and work; involving more stakeholders, including disabled students’ family members 03-05/7/12Kotor Meeting

The problem with terminology Podgorica 10/12/12 SPECIAL NEEDS PWD GIFTED STUDENTS Michel Foucualt: ‘The purpose of education is to classify, control and punish” INCLUSIVE LEARNING