Support for Students with Disabilities through the Implementation of Activities of the Office for Students with Disabilities

Hello! I am Sandra Nuždić, head of the Office for Students with Disabilities, which operates within the University Counselling Centre of the University of Rijeka. In this video, I will briefly present the work and activities of the Office. The Office operates as part of the University Counselling Centre, which also includes the Psychological Counselling Centre and the Careers Office. The Office was founded in 2011 and is located on the campus of the University of Rijeka, specifically in the Faculty of Civil Engineering building. In addition to the head of the Office, participants in the Office's work include the coordinator of the Office for Students with Disabilities, the head of the University Counselling Centre, the Office's Council (which consists of a student representative and representatives of the University's academic staff from areas of science relevant to the Office's work), as well as coordinators for students with disabilities at each component unit of the University and university doctors, specialists in school and university medicine. The Office is intended for all students of the University of Rijeka who, due to illness, impairment or disorder, have permanent, periodic or temporary difficulties in carrying out their daily academic activities. For example, students with visual impairment, hearing impairment, motor disorders, chronic diseases, mental health difficulties, specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia, multiple impairments and other health conditions or difficulties that may affect the course of their studies may contact the Office. The regular activities of the Office include counselling, adaptation of the academic environment, educational activities and data collection. Counselling activities refer to individual or group counselling, providing information about rights and possibilities for obtaining support at the University of Rijeka, mediating the realisation of these rights, and determining the necessary support in adapting the academic environment Adaptation of the academic environment currently includes adaptation of the teaching process and assessment of knowledge, peer support activities in the form of student assistants and student mentors, adaptation of literature, organisation of specialised transport, organisation of personal assistant support in student accommodation, loan of specialised equipment. Educational activities of the Office include informing current and prospective students and raising awareness among the academic and wider community about the challenges of studying for students with disabilities and other difficulties. In addition to these activities, the Office also collects data and evaluates activities to monitor and improve the quality of studying for students with disabilities and other difficulties, and, if necessary, conducts additional research in cooperation with instructors and other associates. Students can contact the Office if they need information on how to exercise their rights, peer support, information about possibilities for obtaining scholarships based on disability, specialised transport from their place of residence within Rijeka and the surrounding area to the faculty and back, digitised and adapted literature, specialised equipment or in any situation where they need information or advice. In case of additional enquiries, uncertainties, or the need for a meeting, you can always contact the Office at the email address uredssi@uniri.hr or by phone at 051/265844. You can find further information, news, useful resources and relevant documents on our website www.ssc.uniri.hr.