The task of the National Union of University Students in Finland is to look after the interests of all university students, whether they have a disability or not. To be able to ensure that equality is realised on campuses, we need an assessment of the challenges and needs faced by students with disabilities. University should be a place where everyone has a real opportunity to study, participate and belong to the community. The possibility to complete a degree and participate in the activities of the university community must not depend on what kind of body, functional capacity or way of learning the student has. Accessibility is not a special arrangement, nor is it a privilege of an individual student, but a basic precondition for equality in studies.
In simple terms, accessibility is about taking human diversity into account in the planning and practical implementation of the built environment. While not everyone needs an accessible environment, a safe environment benefits everyone and makes it easier for everyone to move around the campus. Accessibility must be proactive, not something that is paid attention to only when problems arise. When accessibility issues are considered, students with disabilities must be involved in the preparation of the solutions – accessibility cannot be planned without the people whose daily lives are significantly affected by the solutions.
The need to improve accessibility is not marginal. According to the Eurostudent VII study conducted by the Ministry of Education and Culture, almost one quarter of the higher education students who responded to the survey had some kind of physical disability, functional impairment or long-term health problem. The figure does not directly describe the number of students with disabilities, but it shows how extensively issues related to functional capacity, health and the preconditions for studying affect higher education students. This is a considerably large group that is not identified quite unambiguously in higher education.
Accessibility helps to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to live a student life in the same way as the others. It is about having an equal opportunity to live one’s everyday life without obstacles. People with disabilities still experience negative attitudes and prejudices from people who do not have disabilities and at the level of society. Not all disabilities are visible, and functional capacity may vary from one day to another. Many people think that a student is either completely able to study or completely unable to study. In reality, the functional capacity of many students varies because of reasons such as mental health challenges, illness or life situation, and a significant proportion of students have some kind of factor that limits their ability to study. The responsibility for accessibility must not fall on the shoulders of an individual student: the student should not have to keep finding out which facilities they can access, whether they can participate in an event, who they need to ask for accommodations, or how much they must disclose about their disability.
Constant stress caused by the attitudes and behaviour of other people or fellow students puts a strain on the mind, body and relationships. At worst, it may lead to isolating oneself from others and result in social exclusion. A change in attitudes is required because students have different functional capacities that may vary from one day to another. Using an assistive device may be necessary one day and helpful on another.
The increasing diversity of students is a richness that provides the university community with new thoughts and ideas. The entire community benefits when all its members can participate equally in daily life at universities. Accessibility is a precondition for equality in studies and student life and it is everyone’s right.
More information:
Emilia Enroth
Vice president, communication, development cooperation, language issues
044 906 5003
emilia.enroth@syl.fi
Aada Aho
Board member, social policy (well-being, equality), EU and internationality
044 906 5001
aada.aho@syl.fi
