The „right to (languages) education“ @ unibz

Gabriella Dodero

May 30th 2015, Verona

Disabled students at Universities

● Systematically supported since 1999● State Universities receive specific funds from the

Ministry● A Delegate of the Rector (Delegato per gli studenti

disabili) is responsible for the use of such funds● An administrative office is managing them (Servizio

Disabili)

Dyslexia and other „special educational needs“

● Recognized since 2010 (Legge 170) ● Students affected are NOT „disabled“ !!!● The existing Delegate for Disabled Students and the

administrative service take care of them as well● Services are quite often very similar (e.g. use of digital

materials and hardware/software aids, tutors etc)

CNUDD and the national guidelines● Delegates for Disabled students are „member of a

club“ called CNUDD● The „club“ is recognized by CRUI, the assemby of

Rectors ● CNUDD developed national guidelines in 2003, and

revised them in 2013● All universities agreed to comply with them● Have a look at them, in Italian (it's just 15 pages)

http://cnudd.di.unipi.it/Documenti%20condivisi/LINEE%20GUIDA%20CNUDD/LINEE_GUIDA_CNUDD_2014.pdf

Main Goals

● University as a step towards independent life● The disabled/dyslexic university student is an adult,

and takes decisions for him-herself● All students have the „right to learn“, so to enter the

job market with higher education skills● The Learning Objectives for all students attending a

course must be the same ● The „ways“ to reach such objectives can be different● The assessment of such objectives can be different

What has to be done

● „advisory“ services before enrolment● „mediation“ services between the disabled students,

the administrative offices and the course (sometimes also towards family and social services)

● „support services“ for learning● „monitoring“ of effectiveness for all such services

What the university needs

● A certification of the „educational difficulty“, issued since less than three years by a public health service

● The certification should contain an indication of the specific strength/weakness of the student, what kind of „help“ is suited for the student (e.g. use of a PC with ortographic corrector, screen reader...), what can be waived (e.g. oral exam instead of written exam)

What next?

● A student with such certification is granted more time in admission tests (+30%)

● When admitted, an agreement is then negotiated towards a personalized learning plan and its verification (exams)

Languages @ unibz

● unibz offers degree programs in three languages, IT– EN- DE (and no degree in languages!!)

● Admission: 2 languages B2, 3rd language A0● Admission to 2nd year: 3rd language B1● Graduation: 1st language C1, 2nd language B2+, 3rd

language B2

Language requirements for students with special needs

● Regulated by a Decision of the University Council (56/2012)

● The student formally requests an exemption to the Rector

● A committee appointed by the Rector examines the documentation provided by the student, and issues a written statement about the student's requirements, and how they can be assessed

● e.g. waiving a specific part of the exam, or lowering one of the language thresholds

● Individual decision based on evidence!!!

Three years of practice● The Decision is valid for each type of learning difficulty● It has been applied for students with sensory

disabilities and for dyslexics (small numbers!)● The committee is composed by three people:

● The Vice Rector for Studies● The Head of the Language Center● An administrative person

● The decision might be listed in the Diploma Supplement (e.g. the exit level in EN is lower than B2)

Thank You for Your Time!gdodero@unibz.it