It is the person rather than the disability that matters
Sociology and Psychology Department prepares the "Development Center for Social and Educational Integration of Students with Disabilities" project which aims to support the students with disabilities through the implementation of equal opportunity policies. Before starting the activities of the Center, the Department representatives had an opportunity to adopt extensive experience with students with disabilities in integrated educational environment of the "Ukraine" Open International University of Human Development. Learning Technologies Center (Yana Shapovalova, the Head of Centre and Yulia Kryvoshey, the applied psychologist) provides the student learning support with different nosology in an integrated learning environment. This support of students with special needs is carried out in the following areas: technical, pedagogical, psychological, medical, rehabilitation, sports, social and professional adaptation and rehabilitation.
It should be noted that "Ukraine" University will be professionally prepared for reception of applicants. During the enrollment process the student undergoes a health check, psychological testing, receives career guidance in order to find out what kind of specialized equipment and tutor support the student needs. After enrollment, the students with disabilities may take the courses of technical equipment user, including computerized workplaces and library at the Center for independent work. The applicants who have not passed the selection testing are accepted to training courses for next year enrollment and recommended to study at professional rehabilitation center.
Work market research has shown that today our graduates are 80% more likely to find work than people without higher education (among the people with disabilities). According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the number of persons with disabilities studying in higher educational institutions of Ukraine III-IV accreditation level gradually increases.
The process of training the people with disabilities is closely linked to the process of socialization in life. The integration of these people into the learning process greatly facilitates their further integration into society since it provides joint training for people with disabilities with other people. But the integration of people with different health condition into the educational environment does not guarantee equal access to education because some of them may have specific educational needs. Therefore, for the education of persons with disabilities it is necessary to introduce a range of measures to ensure their full inclusion into the educational process.
Thus, experience shows that to work with students with disabilities it is necessary to have the units that provide integration of students into the educational environment, facilitate their social adaptation and rehabilitation, implement the special training technologies, provide the students with technical assistance and employment guidance.
The Administration of Sociology and Psychology Department is grateful for the cooperation to our Kiev colleagues: Kateryna Kolchenko, the Enrollment Counselor, Yana Shapovalova, the Head of the Center and Yulia Kryvoshey, the psychologist.
