The 2nd conference of the Nordic Network for Disability Coordinators, NNDC
on Higher Education and Disability

Bridging the Gap

From Accessibility to Usability in Higher Education
- From Integration to Inclusion

October 6-8 2010
The Counselling and Support Centre,
The Danish School of Education, Aarhus University
Copenhagen

Background

The concept of equal access and participation to all levels of education for students with spescial needs represents some major challenges. On the one hand, there is a general political insistence on productivity (i.e. more candidates in shorter time) combined with the insistence of integration and inclusion in the mainstream higher education and academic life. On the other hand, there is the challenge from the demand for 'reasonable adjustment' in the UN convention and similar 'antidiscrimination' regulations confronted with the fact that the students also must meet the general and spesific acedemic requirements for quality prescribed in the Bologna Process framework for qualifications for the European Higher Education Area (The Bergen conference of European Ministers 2005).

The UN convention has already been adopted by many states in the world and can also be expected to be implemented in the European Union Legislative body. In article 24 - which deals with education - it is stated that inclusive education at all levels should ensure the development of persons with disabilities to their fullest potential (conf. section 1a, b). Furthermore, it is stated in section 2c that reasonable adjustment of the individual's requirements is provided, and in section 5 it is stated that states should ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access tertiary education (i.e. further education) and lifelong learning.

The aim of this conference is to examine these major challenges in the field of education for students with special needs and rise a discussion focusing on the possible rethinking of the approaches (theoretically and in praxis), not only inclusive education but also to the general concept of disability, a rethinking that - in our opinion - must lead to changes in practical opportunities for persons with disability.

Call for papers & workshops

With that in mind, we invite submissions from anyone working whitin the field of supporting students with disability in higher education, and from any professional standing ranging from individuals and/or institutions at the beginning of their work (work in progress) to those established within the field, but also researchers from education who would like to take this opportunity to explore and/or contribute to this discussion based on following topics:

Suggested topics  

- How do we understand and describe integration and inclusion?

- Who are we talking about?

Identification of various groups of students with special needs

- Good praxis & bad experience

What kind of accommodation, special counselling and support etc, is provided for the various groups of students with special needs in higher education?

- Mobility - Exchange students with special needs

What kind of accomodation, special counselling and support etc, is provided for the various groups of exchange students with special needs?

These papers & workshops can either:

i. seek to advance the theoretical and conceptual approach in relation to supporting and counselling students with disability in higher education (1 1/2 hour workshop) or

ii. seek to draw on empirical experience (good praxis) to apply and extend the work in higher education supporting students with diability (2x45 min. workshop) or

iii. seek to be a dynamic discussion group with a facilitator to lead the discussion based on a short presentation of work in progress or examples of good praxis within the field (1/2 hour workshop).

Please fill out and submit the form along with abstracts and/or papers regarding the workshop to LHK@dpu.dk before September 7 2010. NB! Please write "NNDC Conference - Workshop" in the subject line.