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Disabled in Higher education: the protractor of society openness

International conference “Education for ALL”

10-12 September, 2007

Warsaw, Poland

Ruta RuolyteLithuanian National Union of Students

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Main topics

Present situation in Lithuania

Relevant legislation

Students with disability as a social goal group

Visions for the future

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Contemporary society is neither utopia nor the real world,

it is socially created world Taylor, 1996

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190 000 700

51 19

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Present situation I

The volunteers in Student representatives organisations

Disability coordinators in the universities

Increased number of students with disability

Financial support from the government

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Present situation II

Technical Regulation for Construction (2004)

The Centre for Blind and Visually Impaired Students in Vilnius university

The Career Centre for Disabled in the college of Siauliai

Special study programs for disabled

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Present situation III

In general still exists:

Inaccessibility of physical, informational and accommodation environment

Lack of special services and support workers

The attitude of lecturers, students and disabled

Passiveness and pessimism of disabled

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Relevant legislation I

The Constitution of Lithuanian Republic

The law of Higher education

The law of Education

The law of Special education

The law of Equal possibilities

The law of Disabled Social Integration

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Relevant legislation II

• Higher education is available according to each persons capabilities

• One of the main goals of university is to create conditions for person to get higher education

• The system of education is socially fair

• Professional schools, higher education institutions make conditions for persons with special needs to get particular education

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Students with disability as a social goal

group IResearches

Visits to Higher education institutions

Special seminars for students representatives

Meetings with disabled pupils

National conference on Higher education and disability

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Program “Higher Education for All” and action plan

1. The accessibility of physical and informational environment

2. Supplement of special needs

3. Attitude towards the disabled

Students with disability as a social goal

group II

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Students with disability as a social goal

group III

International seminar “The power of difference – alliance”

Equal rights research in U.K.

“In the way to studies for all: first step – education”

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Visits to Higher Education institutions

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Seminar for Students Representatives

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“The power of difference – alliance”

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Photo exhibition

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Vision for the FutureVision for the Future

Student with disability studying in Higher education institution with equal rights and possibilities

Participation of disabled students

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Challenge for Higher education Challenge for Higher education institutionsinstitutions

The space for mutual development

The risk and prestige

Creation of wellbeing of the country

The way of seeking public-spirited and conscious ideal of society

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Education is a right, not a privilege.Education is a right, not a privilege. Lithuanian National Union of Students

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Lithuanian National Union of StudentsGeležinio vilko str. 12, Vilnius 01112 Lithuania

tel. +370 5 2685330, fax. +370 5 2611797 el. paštas: ruta@lss.lt, www.lss.lt

Thank You for Your attention

ALWAYS WELCOME FOR YOUR QUESTIONS