Case study of adapting literature for people with disabilities

3. Methodology

3.1. Analysis of documents and public sources

For the purposes of this case study, an analysis of publicly available documents and sources was conducted. First, the official websites of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, were reviewed, especially three key organisational units: the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), the library and the Centre for e-Learning Support (CPEU). The OSD Office's website provides information on procedures and forms for requesting adjustments to the teaching process and exams. The library offers information on support for students with disabilities and accessible aids, while the CPEU provides instructions on digitisation and adaptation of literature. Furthermore, the University of Zagreb website was analysed, which contains guidelines on forms of support and institutional frameworks for student support. Through this analysis, data on formal procedures, available resources and the role of different units in the process were collected.

3.2. Normative framework

The normative framework of this case study consists of national documents and recommendations of the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia. A particularly important document is the Guidelines for Improving the Support System for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education, which define standards and recommendations for universities and polytechnics in the Republic of Croatia. The guidelines serve as a reference framework because they prescribe forms of adaptation (teaching process, exams, literature), emphasise the importance of cooperation between different services within the institution, and encourage the development of universal learning design. They ensure that adaptations at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences are aligned with national policy and international standards in the field of higher education and accessibility.