Lithuanian National Union of Students

Students with Disabilities in Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions 2008-2009

SUMMARY

Lithuanian National Union of Students (LSS) from the acedemic year of 2005/2006 have started to implement annual surveys about higher education accessibility for disabled in lithuanian Higher education institutions (HEI).

Hereby, there will be shortly presented the results of the annual survey of the academic year of 2008/2009. Survey was being implemented march and april of 2009. There were got 43 answers from 49 governmental and private HEI. Disabled students are studying in 35 HEI.

I.                    There was noticed insignificant raise of disabled students in lithuanian HEI in the academic year of 2008/2009.

Analyzing the results of LSS annual survey dated from 2005, there is seen a growth of disabled students numbers. There were studying 530 disabled students in academic year of 2005/2006, 640 in 2006/2007, 915 in 2007-2008 and 980 in 2008/2009. The most significant raise of the numbers was in 2007-2008, when it grew 43% from 2005.

The biggest part of the disabled are studying in full time bachelor studies. Disabled students numbers reveals existing gender equality, though there is a tendency that there are more female students in HEI in Lithuania in general. Disabled students participation in activities of academic community are more exception than a tendency, though it is noticed  more active students with disabilities participation in local Students‘ Unions.

II.There is no HEI in Lithuania which would be fully accessible for disabled and providing special services for them. However, there is a significant number of HEI which are systemically improving higher education accessibility for disabled.

HEI shows raised awareness about higher education accessibility for disabled by improving physical environment accessibility not only for mobility impairments having people but also for those who have sight or hearing impairments (Vilnius and Šiauliai colleges; Vilnius and Mykolas Romeris universities, Academy of Physical Culture of Lithuania and e.t.c.). HEI are openly admitting that physical environment is only partly adapted for disabled needs. Hereupon, the numbers of  students dormitories, offering  accessible rooms is increasing. For example, in the academic year of 2005/2006 there were only 4 students dormitories and in the academic year of 2008/2009 there are 10, which are offering accessible rooms for disabled. Moreover, the growth of disability coordinators in HEI is being considered as a very positive aspect. At the moment 7 HEI are having disability coordinators.

More than a half of Lithuanian HEI is constantly implementing analysis of disabled students needs, providing special services, consultations about studies and career are being provided. Noticeably, there is a lack of education actions about disability issues.

III.                There is a tendency that the spectrum of special services for disabled students in HEI is growing, however services are still more consultation/administrative type. The involvement of additional human resources is still avoided, for example, voluntarilly type, what would significantly improve qualitative participation in study process.

Few years ago SWD were able to get information about studying possibilities, scanning, mediation services. Nowadays, there could be offered studies individualization plan, longer exam time, studies material in alternative format and mentoring for disabled. 

However, still not commonly used are these services: preparation courses for future students, sign interpreter, studies material in audio format and self-help groups. There is still no provision of special transportation, reader or personal assistant help.

IV.               Special attention in given for the improvement of higher education accessibility for disabled.

This academic year there are 13 HEI who have disability coordinators, in 7 of them there were created special staff establishment.

There is a tendency that SWD problems are being solved, by involving different positions having staff (deans, directors of departments, other administration staff). However, it is not clear whether it is a team work or individual work in certain spheres. The members of local Students‘ Unions are seen as an important resource in the improvement of higher education accessibility and and its populiarization.

V.                 For the improvement of higher education accessibility for disabled HEI mostly are using  their own funding. Some part of HEI gets the special funding from the Ministry of Science and Education. Noticeably, there are almost not used alternative funding possibilities, likewise the adaptation of physical and informational environment, as well the improvement of special services are being postponed for the “better times“.

VI.               The biggest part of HEI had rated studying conditions for disabled as average. Very good studying conditions, according to HEI, are in Vytautas Magnus university, Vilnius Law and Business and West Lithuania Business colleges. The main obstacle in the improvement of higher education accessibility is being considered the lack of funding, as well, lack of information, on how to improve,  and lack of qualification with this certain topic.

Despite at the moment existing obstacles, the biggest part of lithuanian HEI do have plans for the improving SWD studying conditions: the analysis of SWD needs, physical environment adaptation for mobility, sight and hearing impairments having people, establishment of disability coordinator‘s staff places, organization of meetings of SWD with HEI administration. 

VII.             The information about studying possibilities for disabled in lithuanian HEI could be found in web-pages of HEI, meanwhile Studies markets events, in special publication about studying possibilities in HEI, during Open days. In some of HEI disabled pupils and their parents are getting personal consultations. Unfortunately, not all HEI are providing special information about studying possibilities for SWD.

Studying conditions for SWD are one of the main criterias‘ for choosing appropriate HEI, that is why the provision of information about physical environment accessibility and special services is essential. However, some HEI which have considerably good conditions for SWD studying by not providing essential information are losing its potential and the big financial investments are not practically used.

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VIII.           In order to implement systematic and effective higher education accessibility for disabled, HEI staff needs certain competences. Those could be get during special seminars and conferences about disability issues, special publications, personal consultations of specialist, working in this sphere, finally, disability trainings in HEI about working with disabled students. 

IX.               There have been 4 students with disabilities (from 980) who were participating in Erasmus/Socrates  students exchange program who had mobility and other disabilities and were from different HEI. There were no disabled students who would come to Lithuania with Erasmus/Socrates Students exchange program.

There could be mentioned different reason of students with disabilities passivity: there is almost no practice of this or lack of information, inaccessibility of HEI. The main reason for this was found that lithuanian HEI are still not ready to welcome disabled students from other countries or just there were no need.

SWD participation in  Erasmus/Socrates exchange program should be promoted. Lithuanian HEI who are more or less accessible for disabled, should publicly inform and atract disabled students from other countries.

X.                 There are 10 HEI which are collaborating with other HEI, non-governmental institutions in order to improve higher education accessibility for disabled. The collaboration mostly based on implementating various projects, organizing celebrations, providing the support.