At the Silesian University of Technology, there is the Office for People with Disabilities, which can be used by students with disabilities or chronically ill, doctoral students with disabilities, student candidates, teaching staff and administrative staff of the Silesian University of Technology.

Forms of support offered by the University in the field of assistance to persons with disabilities include: Assistance of a teaching assistant to a disabled person (the assistant may support the student, e.g. in taking notes, in moving around the University, in adapting materials for classes, in handling administrative matters at the University or in contact with academic teachers); assistance of a sign language interpreter; adaptation of educational materials, e.g. electronic version, materials prepared in enlarged print or braille; adaptation of examination materials; assistance in solving individual disability classes; and financial assistance in solving individual scholarships; rental of equipment supporting the education process; organising additional consultation and remedial classes, including individual classes in individual subjects; free psychological consultations; assistance in solving individual problems of disabled students, as well as additional financial support in the form of scholarships.

In the near future, an additional, special room for people with disabilities will be created at the Silesian University of Technology, where they will be able to rest, learn, do things, and make new contacts.

- It is a much-needed place. Until now, there was no such space at the Silesian University of Technology, in which a special comfort room would be available, i.e. a toilet specially adapted to people with various disabilities. I had the opportunity to be in this room, to advise what is missing and what is needed,” said Agnieszka Filipkowska, an employee of the Foreign Languages Centre. Agnieszka herself is a person with a disability, but she is also a German language teacher at the Silesian University of Technology. She works with students every day and notices a problem.

- The Silesian University of Technology reaches out, offers help, we are also open as staff to the needs of people with disabilities, but we often do not even know about them, we cannot ask, especially because many disabilities are invisible to the naked eye. Therefore, we urge students to take the initiative themselves and to admit what support they need, not be ashamed, and we will provide them with this support – added Agnieszka Filipkowska.

All information on the activities of the Office of People with Disabilities is available on the website of Silesian University of Technology | Study Service Centre (polsl.pl) in the tab “Office of People with Disabilities” and on the Facebook profile of the Office for People with Disabilities www.facebook.com/bonpolsl/

Photograph: Jan Szady and Jadwiga Janowska