Support for people with disabilities

Procedure no.1 on dealing with people in mental health crisis

We will develop “Recommendations on the principles of dealing with and providing assistance in a mental crisis”. The recommendations concern the support of persons in mental crisis, the recommended treatment of persons in mental crisis, the raising of awareness on the issue of mental crisis. Information on institutions providing assistance to people in mental crisis will also be presented.

The main objective of the “Recommendations” is to increase the effectiveness of the measures taken to help people in mental crisis. Chronic stress, loneliness and emotional overload, states of panic, anxiety, depression, emotional agitation or withdrawal – these states are also observed in academic situations. They increase with a prolonged pandemic situation.

Therefore, members of the university community will be provided with practical information on, among other things, how to get in touch with a person in mental crisis (supportive messages and messages that should be avoided), how to deal with people in a panic, how to react in a situation of aggression, addresses of help centres. Useful information will be posted on the website.

We plan to produce a “Guide to Mental Health – Protection and Promotion”, which will provide information on mental health: what it is worth and how to protect it. Promotion of mental health at the University of Wrocław is an educational activity and its aim is to strengthen mental health and the processes supporting the maintenance of good health as well as to create conditions conducive to good health. Out of concern for the comfort of studying and working in the academic community of the University of Wrocław, the Guide will be addressed to the entire academic community.

Procedure no. 2 on educational support for students with disabilities

Regulations for providing support to people with disabilities at the University of Wrocław have already been introduced in the form of Ordinance No. 129/2020 of the Rector of the University of Wrocław of 30 September 2020 on the introduction of Regulations for providing non-material support to people with disabilities at the University of Wrocław.

The main objective is to provide conditions for persons with disabilities to fully participate in the admission process, in the Doctoral School, in university education and in the Doctoral School or in scientific activities. We have taken into account the principles of CRASP concerning educational support and equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities in access to higher education.

Procedure no. 3 on architectural accessibility of UWr facilities for people with disabilities

We will implement rules of conduct in the case of renovations or investments at the University of Wrocław so that they are compliant with current rules and regulations concerning accessibility for the disabled (e.g. the principle of universal design). These rules will be in force at the stage of defining a renovation plan, developing architectural designs, conducting specific renovation and construction works. University employees will be trained in architectural accessibility and universal design.

We have already carried out inspections of building at the University of Wrocław in terms of accessibility for people with disabilities or special needs. People who experience disability on a daily basis have also participated in the inspections. Thanks to their knowledge, the accessibility of university spaces can be verified.

Procedure no. 4 on evacuation of people with disabilities

We will prepare rules of conduct in the case of evacuation of people with disabilities from buildings at the University of Wrocław. The purpose of this procedure is to ensure the safety of people with disabilities in emergency situations during random events. We will train University employees in the area of safe evacuation of persons with disabilities.

Procedure no. 5 on education of students and PhD students with disabilities

We will establish rules to ensure the best possible conditions for the education of people with disabilities at the University of Wrocław. Regulations will be developed concerning extension of examination duration, adaptation of teaching materials or use of assistive technologies during classes and examinations. The Procedure will take into account the principles of educational support for students with disabilities at UWr in 7 accordance with Resolution 52/VI of the Presidium of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland of 2 June 2016:

1. Individualisation of the study process of a person with a disability, adapting it to his/her individual educational needs resulting from the specific nature of the health condition and the characteristics of the classes, including the conditions in which they are held.
2. Subjectivity and consideration of the disabled person’s autonomy and right to self-determination.
3. Developing the potential of the person with a disability in relation to his/her educational process – selecting adaptations that would allow the student to acquire knowledge and develop practical skills.
4. Rationality of adaptations proposing adaptations that are economically rational, effectively equalise opportunities for the disabled person and ensure that the academic standard is maintained.
5. Maintaining the academic standard, preparing adaptations while maintaining the content criteria applicable to all students.
6. Adaptations closest to the standard course, i.e. those which do not have the character of a privilege for a disabled person but would rationally equalise the possibilities of the disabled person to realise the educational process considered optimal in a given course.