Choosing the university studies represents a fundamental stage in young people life, often reached after long reflection and evaluations. That’s even more true for aspiring university students with a disability. In addition to the course of studies and the employment perspectives, they must evaluate the accessibility of the building itself and of the city they’ve chosen (you know, we don’t live only to study, mostly when we’re young, do we?) and, according to the specific cases, the availability of different assistance services for students with disability.
Current laws (and, especially, the 17/1999 law) guarantee the right to education to all the students, both disabled and not, not only during the compulsory education, but also for all the university course of studies. Nowadays, all universities make assistance services (both educational specific and general) available to their students with a disability or learning specific diseases, to enable them to fully live their university experience, minimizing the inconvenience. Together with educational and administrative assistance, many colleges offer dedicated transport and accompanying services towards the most important railway stations or on public transport, dispended by selected and prepared volunteers, and sometimes even taxi vouchers.
Picture by auremar / 123RF Archivio Fotografico
Should you need these services, before enrolling, make sure that the university you’ve chosen offers them and find out how to request for them and how long does it take for benefiting from them getting in touch with the university Disability Office: so, you’ll avoid unpleasant surprises in the future. Furthermore, if you have a motoric or sensory disability, it’s strongly advisable a “reconnaissance tour” of the university building, classrooms, and all the offices you’d need to visit during your course of studies.
Moreover, take into account that many Italian universities have reduced boarding costs (and sometimes the totally free admission) for students with disability, in addition to dedicated scholarships (for the worthiest students) and to the priority as regards the assignment of rooms at boarding schools, halls of residence and so on. To benefit from these facilitations, when enrolling, you’ll have to present your invalidity certificate and the ISEE documents (if the facilitation depends on your income).
Is everything clear? Then, enjoy your choice and studies!