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TIU- Towards Inclusive Universities by Empowering Disabled Students NEWSLETTER 3 Internet, April 2009 The 3rd activity of ‘Towards Inclusive Universities' EU project (TIU3) has aimed at forming a network of disability specialists at universities across Europe and beyond. The Call for Participation was sent out to 150 contacts in over 40 countries to set up an international exchange of information online. Many have shown interest; some have passed the information on to new contacts, thus enlarging the original network.
The first step in TIU3 was to design a survey (thanks to associate member EAIE) and create a link to the website. As survey answers arrive, data and information is being added on the Towards Inclusive Universities website. A forum has been set up so that anyone interested can directly ask questions, discuss specific needs and share solutions in a more interactive way. This will be especially useful for isolated advisers, and people wanting to set up disability support for the first time.
In addition to the data requested in the survey, the TIU3 international mailings have resulted in other unexpected benefits: possible developments through The European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education, new points discussed with a Lithuanian specialist, a request to translate the survey into Japanese, and interest from Pakistan, Ethiopia and India. While the project aims to develop understanding and expertise within the European Union, it is clear that TIU online material will benefit individuals and institutions worldwide.
www.tiu.org.tr website usage has been monitored through Google Analytics since March 2009. The site has been visited over 530 times from 25 countries eligible to participate in this European project, and over 650 times from 55 countries world wide. 'Most visits' were from Turkey, Canada, Spain, Netherlands, Lithuania; 'most pages visited' were in Cambodia, Ireland, Nepal, Colombia, Iran. 'Longest time on the site' was spent in Cambodia, Comoros, Kenya, Pakistan and Nepal;
TIU3 Turkish developments
In June 2008 at the 2nd Turkish University-Disability workshop, participants asked for a website that would be able to host national University-Disability material: a section of Towards Inclusive University website (http://www.tiu.org.tr/turkce/content/view/34/65/ ) now fulfills this duty. The section has a list of universities active in the Turkish University-Disability platform, with a contact person, their email, and a growing number of university disability websites. There are also articles and surveys, with outcomes.
The Turkish University-Disability Platform, which was created in 2007 as an outcome of a previous EU project, grew rapidly through the 3rd national workshop at Istanbul University, 5-6 March 2009. 58 Turkish universities were represented, as well as the Higher Education Council, the National Examinations Board and the Prime Ministry Disabled People’s Administration. As well as mentions at several points during the introduction and the discussions, the ‘Towards Inclusive Universities’ Project was presented visually in the form of a poster, with A4 handouts provided for 150 participants from 58 Turkish universities, ministries and relevant institutions. (The Turkish Platform now has 215 members from 69 universities, 2 ministries, the Higher Education Council, the National Examinations Board and the parliament). One of the features introduced at the 3rd workshop was the use of posters to present information about developments at 8 Turkish universities; in this way, the information given by each university has been standardized (using questions from the TIU3 survey), and precious workshop time can be focused on critical topics. Many university disability units learned the design skills for the first time. The poster format, based on the TIU poster, is an effective visibility tool that many units will be using to present information about their services at registration days, university events, conferences, etc. As A4 handouts can be provided for participants to take away, information can be read and compared after the workshop and stored for reference. This method of presentation proved popular and will be continued at future annual workshops.
It has become apparent that the ‘Towards Inclusive Universities’ project has been able to influence the development of the Turkish University-Disability Platform in several ways. Several of the 6 participants on the TIU2 Study Visit in December 2008 explained various aspects and concepts learnt about in the Netherlands: these ideas are now circulating among TUD platform members. The 3rd Workshop also saw the beginning of the Turkish Disabled Students group, and the launch of their email group. The first task of the student group has been to prepare some disabled student profiles, and members are now identifying topics they want to be discussed at the TIU4 training in June 2009.
After developing the TIU3 survey, the use of surveys has also been expanded to get feedback from the Turkish University-Disability Platform. Survey information allowed objective evaluation of member needs and views; in April 2009 an Advisory Group was set up to identify priorities and standards of practice. Another survey is gathering recommendations of Ottoman language instructors with experience teaching visually impaired students. TIU3 has brought the greatest developments of the project website. Links are given to tools used such as Google Analytics and Survey Monkey. www.tiu.org.tr 
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