Educational suppport for university students with hearing impairments in public universities of the Silesian urban area (preliminary report: pilot study)

Abstract

Initiatives have been undertaken in Europe in order to increase the number of university students and graduates. Initiatives have been made undertaken in Europe in order to increase the number of university students and graduates from higher education institutions. Each country emphasizes different aspects of the problem. However, it is common to stress the need for the higher number of university students from “non-traditional” environments, and from the standpoint of both European and world universalism, the environment of the deaf should be considered as such. Study aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate adjustments made at universities to aid the educational process of people with hearing impairments in comparison to adjustments introduced for other forms of disability. The study was based on a diagnostic survey. The exclusion criterion concerned only the universities that did not agree to participate and/or had never educated students with disabilities. The results of the study did not support the research thesis showing that the profile of a university is a significant factor of choice for people with hearing impairments. It was demonstrated that the number of deaf university students is decreasing with time despite statutory deregulation which involved a removal of certain legal barriers. The amendment to the Higher Education Act eliminated legal barriers, but the universities are challenged with the implementation of the regulations in the academic practice.