Higher Education in R. Macedonia and in SEE “The only disability in life is the bad attitude”

Higher Education in R. Macedonia and in

SEE “The only disability

in life is the bad attitude”Daniela Stojanovska –Djingovska

Association of students and Youth with Disability-Skopje (ASYD),R.Macedonia

Introduction of the ASYD –Skopje

• ASYD is established in December 2002

• The mission of this organization is to promote inclusive secondary and higher education for the young people and students with disability, through providing all necessary conditions for that, representing the social model in the approach to the disability

04/24/23Brochure SEE-YSD ”Inclusive Higher Education in South East

Europe" 2

South-East European network of students associations

• The network of Youth and Students with Disabilities is established in February 2004 in order to work together to improve the position of youth and students with disabilities in the region of Southeast Europe.

• The network over the past years comprised four organizations:

04/24/23 Brochure SEE-YSD ”Inclusive Higher Education in South East Europe" 3

• Association of Students with Disabilities "Gaudeamus“- Republic of Moldova,

• Association of Students and Youth with Disability Skopje, (ASYD) Republic of Macedonia,

• Association of Youth with Disabilities (AYDM) from Montenegro

• Association of students with disabilities ASD Republic of Serbia.


Europe" 4


Europe"

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According to a research made by SEENYSD partners within the project “Promotion of Inclusive Higher Education in SEE”, the barriers of students with disabilities in obtaining higher education include:

• physically inaccessible classrooms, bathrooms, canteens, gymnasiums and dorms

• lack of personal assistance services


• lack of educational materials in alternative formats, like books in electronic, audio or large print formats, on Braille

• lack of computer programs for students with visual impairment

• lack of organized transportation for wheelchair users

• lack of sign language interpreters for students with hearing impairment

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• lack of identification of some types of disabilities, like difficulties in the learning process

• segregation of students with disabilities in special student dorms

Accessibility of education The issue of the accessibility of

education has to be perceived from multiple levels.

Along with the most considered aspect of physical accessibility of the environment, it is necessary to consider the value systems on which higher education is based on as well as the attitudes of all stakeholders.



Accessibility also includes aspects of:1.school curriculums, 2.programs and 3.resources (equipment and teaching

aids). 4.despite certain progress, the physical

aspect represents a key question (for example, limited access to the libraries, classrooms etc).


The curriculums and programs are inaccessible because of the lack of appliance of assistive technologies and students with disabilities can be denied access to several courses because of the statutory limitations which regulate the access to certain professions, for example medicine or pedagogy, as well as other professions.

What kind of services are provided by ASYD?

1. Informative service office Information and support in achieving

different rights during studies, often securing support in communication, with the administration (faculty, university etc), obtaining the necessary documentation…

•


INFORMATIVE SERVICE OFFICE



2. Information on the availability of faculties and possibilities for students with disabilities to study in such faculties

• negotiations are made with faculty managements over the adjustments of some segments of the educational process- classes, practices, exams, schedules etc

• and via the media, organization inform the potentially interested YPD for studying

Do you think that there is a need for an additional education of teaching and administrative staff due to the work

with students with disabilities?

frequency percent

no answer 2 2

yes 56 67no 26 31total 84 100

Are the faculty employees, in your opinion, ready to consider differences

of the students with disabilities and adapt their work in appropriate way?

frequency percent

I don’t know 13 16

yes 53 63

no 18 21

total 84 100

Support in acquiring student scholarships-

• information about the scholarships and rights how to obtain them, ensuring more favorable conditions of getting different scholarships and aid while obtaining the necessary documentation.

• Available literature- book, notes and script translations in electronic, audio or other formats

•


3. Personal assistant in education?

• Due to the lack of the professional service of personal assistance, partner organizations provide assistance in education which includes support while performing activities in the academic community.

• Personal assistant is temporally engaged by project


Personal assistance


Psycho-social support and fortifying of young people with disabilities

• Throughout courses, trainings and workshops- include the organization of language courses and computer program courses, as well as trainings from the human rights

• Support in ensuring other academic preconditions- places in student dorms, availability of student dorms, student clubs, canteens etc



Transportation to faculties• Since 15th of March 2005, ASYD in

cooperation with the City of Skopje and Public Transport Enterprise implements project for transport of students with disability from their homes to the faculties and vise versa,which helps to overcome one of their bi possibility for regular follow up of the lectures and practical exercise.

• Mini van for education and three others

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Free of charge studying for SWD

• According to the New Law of Higher E Education from 14.03.2008 Item 87• High Educational institutions won’t

charge participation from: Parentless children, Persons with first or second degree of disability, Invalids of war and Persons that have been brought up in a Poorhouse.

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Positive discrimination or affirmative action??

• What is the difference?• What are the differences between

stereotypes and prejudices? • Do you think that our students with

disability are discriminate in any way?• What is your first instinctive reaction when

you see student with disability in your class?

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• What could improve the status of the students with disabilities on your faculty, in your opinion?

• What could your faculty do in order to achieve equality of students with disabilities and other students?

• What are you (concretely) ready to undertake in order to adapt your lectures to the students with disabilities?

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• Has it occurred on your faculty that some students were privileged due to their disabilities, according to your experience?

• Are the faculty employees, in your opinion, ready to consider differences of the students with disabilities and adapt their work in appropriate way?

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Facts and numbers from research

• Is discrimination of students with disabilities explicitly forbidden by statutory clauses of your faculty?


Has your faculty defined strategy in order to improve studying conditions of students with

disabilities?

frequency percent

I don’t know 2 2yes 17 20no 11 13I’m not familiar with 54 65total 84 100

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According to your opinion, has the number of enrolled students with

handicaps on your faculty increased during recent years?

frequency percent

I don’t know 1 1yes 23 27no 20 24not familiar with

40 48

total 84 100

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Thank you for your attention!

Higher Education in R. Macedonia and in SEE “The only disability in life is the bad attitude”

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