Lithuanian dormitories open their doors to students with disabilities, but remain empty

Currently, 149 students are studying at Vilnius University, whose disabilities are known because they applied for financial support and/or individualization of the study process.

Three students have mobility disabilities, and the others have what are commonly called invisible disabilities. For example, attention and activity disorders, learning disabilities, autism, anxiety disorders, depression, etc

“Students with disabilities do not have to provide information about their health or individual needs during admission, so it would be difficult to name the exact number of people with disabilities studying at the university,” said Dr. Vilmantė Pakalniškienė.

According to her, in the dormitory located at Saulėtekios al. 12 has 6 rooms adapted for students with mobility disabilities. Two rooms are currently occupied.

Vanesa, who is visually impaired, is currently studying at VU Faculty of Philology and lives in a university dormitory. The girl assures that she had no other considerations regarding settling in the capital during her studies.

“I already knew I wanted to live in a dorm and I just went through the necessary procedures for that — I filled out the application,” she said.

The interviewer does not hide that there were preliminary fears and thoughts about how she would manage to orient herself in the new environment or whether there would be enough space. According to Vanesa, when filling out an application for a place to live in a university dormitory, it can be noted that the future student has a disability and indicate their needs. Which the girl did.

“There is a separate part of the dormitory, which is intended for people with disabilities, that’s where I currently live. I didn’t check my place in advance, I just found out that I was allocated a place to live, I called the administrator and clarified everything in detail. Then all my fears disappeared, because I was informed that I will live in a place that is adapted for people with disabilities,” said the student, who has been living in the VU dormitory since August of last year.

The girl says that after settling in a new place, she needed time to get used to the new environment and even purchase some necessary items that would facilitate her daily cooking.

“Today I can honestly say that living in a dormitory is not difficult and I really don’t face any difficulties. Maybe in the beginning you needed more help from those around you or you need some small things now. However, living in a dormitory does not create such a situation that I need help every day and a lot,” emphasized Vanesa.

However, it is a completely different situation when a girl needs to reach her place of study, because she would not be able to do it without help. She needs an escort.

Venesa assures that she chose the field of study according to the description and it was intermedia literature studies that interested her the most. However, she never thought about distance studies, but made every effort to be able to live in Vilnius and study the direction she was interested in.

KTU representative Mantas Lapinskas says that the university has already started to reconstruct all its dormitories, after which students with disabilities will be able to use all their advantages.

“Currently, we have already moved forward. It’s no secret that some of the university dormitories built during the Soviet era were not suitable for the disabled,” said the interviewer.

According to him, during the reconstruction of the dormitories, all decisions are made that are necessary for people with disabilities: starting with an outdoor elevator and ending with furniture or corridor floors, where special tapes on the floor can help students with vision problems to reach the necessary room.

“Of course, we try to adapt all our dormitories to disabled students as much as possible, without waiting for reconstruction – there are 16 places adapted for persons with disabilities in four KTU dormitories,” emphasized M. Lapinskas.

According to him, four students with disabilities currently live in KTU dormitories. One of them has a mobility disability and uses a wheelchair and lives with an accompanying person. KTU spaces are also suitable for students with temporary individual needs – e.g. after suffering injuries or the like.

“We examine the situation of each student individually, take into account their needs, in order to create a favorable academic and leisure environment for them. We also provide assistance in the study process – we apply individual adaptation of studies. For students with disabilities, we offer lectures taking into account their situation, appropriate presentation of study materials, changing the billing concept, separate learning spaces in the library, etc. Of course, students and employees can not only always use the services of a university psychologist, but also receive versatile financial support.” – said M. Lapinskas.

He, like the VU representative, assured that it would be difficult to name the number of students with disabilities. There are more than 20 people at the university who applied for help, adaptation of studies or other services provided by us due to their disability.

“We assume that there are definitely more students with disabilities, but for personal reasons they do not apply for the offered services or they simply do not need additional help,” said the interviewer.

The students of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) currently live in five dormitories, but none of them have disabled people.

“All these dormitories were built more than 30 years ago. Back then, completely different requirements and principles of universal design applied during design and construction,” said VILNIUS TECH chancellor Assoc. Dr. Played by Trinkūnas.

According to him, in 2023, the 3rd dormitory (Saulėtekio al. 16) was repaired and adapted for students with disabilities.

“We installed an elevator in it, and on the second floor of the building, WC and shower facilities were adapted for people with disabilities. Wider room doors are also specially equipped. One of the rooms on this floor is always kept reserved so that, if necessary, a student with individual needs can be accommodated, but for now we do not have any residents who require special infrastructure,” said the interviewer.

According to him, the 4th dormitory (Saulėtekio al. 18) has also been partially repaired, and a special parking lot has been installed in it. At the moment, the preparation of the dormitories Saulėtekios al. has also been completed. 19-1 modernization project.

“According to this project, not only the dormitory rooms will be renovated, there will be rooms for those with individual needs, but also other infrastructure will be adapted,” said V. Trinkūnas.

Newly built dormitory buildings, such as Plytinės g. 25, are fully adapted for students with disabilities.

Currently, 7 students with various disabilities are studying at VILNIUS TECH. During the year 2023, trainings on adults with autism spectrum disorders were organized for university employees, a meeting was organized with representatives of the Lithuanian deaf community, and help was provided to teachers on how to teach students with individual needs.

Mykolas Romeris University since 2023. At the beginning of the year, preparations began for the new regulation on the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, which came into force in 2024. January 1

“This period has become extremely favorable in order to first assess whether the higher education institution is ready and can provide conditions for persons with motor, sensory or mental disorders to obtain higher education.” Do university faculty and administrative staff have the knowledge and skills to work with individuals who have certain specific individual needs. Will other students, in whose environment there are or will be persons with disabilities, be able to realize that all members of society have the same right to education. These and other issues are not a one-year task, but the result of a long, patient and consistent process,” said Anželika Vėžienė, head of the Employee Activities Department, coordinator of disability issues.

According to her, in 2023, the university started a study to collect data on persons with disabilities studying in higher education and to determine the form of disability or disorder. In the electronic study book, a new student data questionnaire on disabilities or disorders was created and activated.

“Until February 2024, collect data on 54 university students who reported having various forms of mobility, hearing or vision disabilities or disorders such as panic attacks, dyslexia, anxiety, attention, activity, perception or somatic disorders. At the moment, five students with mobility disabilities who move in wheelchairs are studying at the university,” said A. Vėžienė.

According to her, lectures for the latter students are organized in those buildings where the auditoriums are available. There are parking spaces for persons with disabilities at university departments, ramps, entrance doors are wide enough for persons with mobility disabilities and open automatically, the premises are equipped with lifts, elevators, the conference halls of the central building, library reading rooms, and toilets are adapted to the needs of persons with disabilities. , the university has the possibility to use stair lifts.

People with hearing and visual disabilities also study at the university. 3 students have hearing impairments, 2 students have visual impairments.

“Regarding students with hearing or visual disabilities, it should be emphasized that the university has accumulated a considerable collection of voiced publications. About 100 publications in DAISY format, about 200 audio books and about 400 publications adapted to be read using voice synthesis software are available in the library. There is also a separate work space for library visitors with visual and mobility disabilities, who can use various specialized equipment – Braille printer, electronic image enlarger, etc. Computerized workplaces have specialized software installed,” the interviewer detailed.

Currently, students with disabilities or special needs do not live in the university dormitory.