VMU Organized “Disability Forum: Inclusive Higher Education 2023”
On November 21st the second “Disability Forum: Inclusive Higher Education 2023” took place at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU). As an implementation of the Disability Policy of the University of Inclusion, the Forum was attended by Lithuanian and foreign higher education experts who are experienced in creating reasonable accommodations to increase accessibility of higher education for students with various disabilities/individual needs.
In her welcoming speech to the participants of the Forum, the Vice-Rector of Communication of VMU Assoc. prof. Vilma Bijeikienė underlined the importance of the culture of the community. “In the University’s Disability Inclusion Policy, we understand that the results depend on all of us, on the whole community, working together to bring successful results”.
Assoc. prof. Vilma Bijeikienė
Opening the forum, Miglė Janušauskaitė, Disability Affairs Coordinator at VMU, mentioned that the university seeks to provide reasonable accommodation not only for persons with disabilities, but also for persons without disabilities, but with individual health-related needs. “I notice a big change because students with a variety of individual needs – activity and attention disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, autistic spectrum disorder, etc. – are more and more often requesting study process adjustments.”
Miglė Janušauskaitė
The Forum aims to discuss the challenges faced by students with disabilities or individual needs in higher education. Presentations and discussions led by experts covered a wide spectrum of topics, from adapting study programs to academic fairness in the individualized study process.
The importance of the dialogue between the student and the university in the process of creating reasonable accommodation in the study process was highlighted by Prof. Jonas Ruškus, professor at VMU, former vice-chairman of the UN Committee of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in his speech on “Accommodation of Studies for Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities”. “A reasonable accommodation can only happen when there is a dialogue between the student with a disability/individual needs, the higher education institution administration, and the lecturer. Only when there is a dialogue can there be an understanding process of how to adjust the specific conditions for that person so that they can succeed in their studies and education on an equal footing with others. Inclusion is a process, and it will never end, because there is an endless variety of conditions and individual needs.”
Prof. Jonas Ruškus
VMU Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences Prof. Saulius Mickevičius presented the aims and results of the “Erasmus+” project “Diffability: HE Curricula & Transition Program Empowering Students with Different Abilities”, coordinated by the University, which is aimed at fostering entrepreneurial skills in students with different disabilities. S. Mickevičius said that the project partners’ expertise was used to create educational materials adapted to the needs of students with hearing and visual impairments in higher education, to enhance students’ skills based on technology and innovative entrepreneurship.
Prof. Saulius Mickevičius
“Erasmus+” project partners Nina Vombergar from the University of Ljubljana and Elif Kain from the Association for Education of the Visually Impaired in Turkey shared their experiences of participating in the project.
Nina Vombergar and Elif Kain
Ieva Rutavičiūtė, deputy director of the State Study Foundation (SSF), presented this year’s start of the European Union’s third funding program period and the SSF’s new project “Inclusive Higher Education”. This year, the project returns with a renewed concept: by participating in the project’s training, it will be possible to choose and participate in the training on the topic that is most relevant to the professional, without having to attend the whole training cycle.
Ieva Rutavičiūtė
Participants’ presentations went beyond theory – the Forum became a platform for important discussions and exchange of ideas on the inclusion of students with disabilities or individual needs and their successful study process. During the discussion, participants had the opportunity to share their experiences and listen to the insights and perspectives of others.
Discussion on “Academic fairness for students with disabilities/individual needs: individualized study process – a precondition for unfairness?” During the discussion, the participants discussed the individualization of studies, where the process needs to be adapted to the individual needs of the student while ensuring academic fairness. Various higher education institution representatives and students with disabilities shared their experiences and insights on how to ensure transparency in individualized study assessments, sharing the measures they use in their practice. The ideas and insights expressed by the participants in the discussion confirmed the understanding that each student with disabilities/individual needs is unique and it is important to find a balance between the individual needs of students and overall academic fairness.
