Accessibility Department

Polski

Operations of the Accessibility Department were launched in 2007 by Rector of the University of Szczecin. The primary idea behind establishing this unit was to provide the wide group of students with disabilities with the forms of support and assistance necessary for participation in the process of learning.
The secondary, nevertheless, still very important goal, is granting organizational and substantive aid addressed to academic and administrative staff of the University who engage in contact with persons with disabilities on a daily basis.

Employees of the Department offer aid to all persons with disabilities in the formal understanding. It means that students who come across difficulties with realization of programme of studies owing to disabilities can use services rendered by the Department.

Persons who were not issued formal medical certificate regarding disability can also use our services. This pertains primarily to chronically ill or temporarily disabled students who owing to health condition are not able to realize the programme of studies. Such persons are entitled to use services rendered by the Department and can expect that adjustments will be made which will enable such persons to continue education.

Persons with medically certified disabilities studying at the University of Szczecin enjoy exactly the same rights and obligations as students without disabilities.

You want to study at the University of Szczecin? It is an excellent choice! Persons with disabilities can participate in recruitment for course in any selected field of study. The recruitment process proceeds on equal terms for all prospective students.

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  • Psychological Counselling

    We encourage all students, postgraduate students and employees of the University of Szczecin to make use of free psychological counselling.

    The psychological counselling is aimed at persons who:

    • live in stress,
    • experience constant anxiety or exhaustion,
    • do not draw satisfaction from life,
    • have problems with developing relationships with other people,
    • experience difficulties with developing close, satisfying relationships;
    • are unable of expressing their needs and feelings.

    Do not wait for things “to sort out themselves”.  If You have a feeling that You experience mounting difficulties which surpass Your capability to cope contact the Psychological Counselling Centre. Our experts are prepared to help You.

    We are waiting for You. Let’s make an appointment:

    Meetings with a psychologist can be arranged on-line or directly in the Psychological Counselling Centre at 15, Wawrzyniaka St. (only by appointment).

    Contact information
    phone: +48
    91 444 38 18
    email: psycholog.don@usz.edu.pl

  • Staff

    A GUIDE FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SZCZECIN - A STUDENT WITH MENTAL DISORDERS

    What you should ask about during the initial meetings:

    • What is the nature of Your disorder?
    • According to You what should I know about Your disorder for our communication to proceed smoothly?
    • Do You remain in contact with an expert in regards to Your disorder?
    • Do You take medication affecting cognitive functions?
    • How will I be able to recognize that Your state is beginning to deteriorate in relation to Your disorder?
    • Do you have an expectation regarding my work related to Your illness?
    • What messages from your environment related to Your illness  You find supportive?
    • What messages from your environment related to Your illness  You find unpleasant or grating?
    • Were You hospitalized in relation to Your illness? If so, what behaviours indicated that staying at a hospital was necessary?
    • Were You at any time in conflict with law? Do You experience uncontrolled aggressive outbursts?

    If the answer to the above questions is affirmative it is worth considering taking additional safety precautions such as working with open doors or in presence of a learning guide. These two measures should be considered during the initial meetings. It will enable assessing whether a necessity for introduction of additional measures for the purpose of work comfort arises in relation to working with a given person.

    • Attempt to maintain an attitude of acceptance in regards to the person suffering from a mental illness. Simultaneously take care of the interpersonal boundaries when you feel that they are being violated.
    • Remember that illnesses are not strictly definable and thus functioning and strength of symptoms may be different in case of any given person.
    • In case of multitude of symptoms attempt to not loose the sight of uniqueness of a given person and resources at their disposal.
    • At times mental illness symptoms are so onerous that a person has to cope with suicidal thoughts.

    The steps which should be taken to save life of someone coping with a suicidal crisis:

    1. Make a call to the Crisis Intervention Centre if a person discloses that they wish to kill themself. It is best to immediately contact large Centres (the chance of reaching a better trained intervener is higher);
    2. If a person disclosed that they have a specific idea on how to kill themself it is best to immediately call an ambulance.

    ANXIETY DISORDER

    How a person suffering from a panic attack feels?

    • Heart rate is elevated;
    • A person starts sweating profusely;
    • Throat is dry;
    • A person feels that they cannot control breathing;
    • A person fears for life and health;
    • Such person feels ashamed that they draw attention to themself with the behaviour they perceive as deviating from norm;
    • Such person feels lost and disoriented (frequently strong panic attacks are accompanied by vertigo, fainting sensation or the feeling that a person may lost control over themself).

    How can you help?

    • Do not judge;
    • Remain calm;
    • Express understanding;
    • Offer the afflicted person to move to an isolated location to reduce the sensation of discomfort related to being in public;
    • Follow student’s needs.

    If a student needs this you can:

    • Ask whether they want you to open a window;
    • Bring something to drink;
    • Fetch a wet towel (a cold compress placed on nape of neck may help);
    • Offer help with steadying breathing;
    • Fetch a paper bag to stop hyperventilation;
    • Ask whether the afflicted person wants you to call someone close to help with calming down;
    • Ask whether the afflicted person finds distractions helpful, e.g. counting tiles in the ceiling or cars passing by.
    • If the panic attack cannot be contained by use of the aforementioned means inform the person suffering from the attack that you believe that an ambulance should be summoned.
    • If the methods you used will turn to be effective and the person calms down ask the afflicted person whether they are receiving psychological support. If not inform such person about the Psychological Counselling Centre of the University of Szczecin.

    Sources:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBWRc6E86xE
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0LYSW15-PI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2Lbve9tnTc
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKUpVKpSdgI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWGvpsgXTcg
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVreJtC8-lc.

    DEPRESSION

    How a student suffering from depression feels?

    • Feels sad, miserable and overwhelmed with helplessness;
    • Lacks motivation for action, is troubled by feeling of emptiness and futility;
    • Has problems with concentration and memory;
    • Feels devoid of energy;
    • Wakes up early in the morning and cannot go back to sleep;
    • May display suicidal thoughts;
    • Perceives themself, the world and other people negatively;
    • Is ashamed of what they are coping with;
    • Is irritable, copes with feeling of guilt;
    • Experiences hopelessness (cannot see a way for solving their problems);
    • Is coping with powerlessness (has no strength to solve problems);
    • Is fighting against feeling of bleakness (perceives future negatively, without a chance for improvement).

    How can you help?

    • If a student shares with you information regarding their depression thank them for their trust and attempt to jointly determine what can be done to help;
    • Do not ask several questions at once;
    • Attempt to ask closed questions for which a student can answer yes or no;
    • Do not play at therapist (do not attempt to discern roots of the illness: “Do you have any idea why it had to be you?”);
    • Do not say: “think positively”, “get a hold of yourself”;
    • Do not attempt to forcefully activate a student (passive attitude of a depressed student is a result of disturbed neurotransmitters not laziness or ill will;
    • Do not say: “come on, smile”, its like saying a person with a broken leg to dance;
    • you may ask which part of the classes you are conducting an afflicted person finds the most difficult, if it is e.g. speaking in public you may temporarily resign from engaging in this form of activity. Ask the afflicted person what form would be the most comfortable for now;
    • If you conduct classes in morning hours and a person with depression has a problem with waking up due to disturbed daily rhythm you may make an appointment to meet for consultations at a later hour;
    • If possible divide assessment into smaller chunks of material etc.;
    • If you notice symptoms which may be indicative of depression but you are not certain you may tell a student that you worry about them because something has changed in their behaviour;
    • Inform the student about the Psychological Counselling Centre of the University of Szczecin.
    • Inform a student about the possibility of taking individual course of studies.

    MANIC EPISODES, MANIA IN AFFECTIVE BIPOLAR DISORDER

    How a student suffering from mania feels?

    • They are agitated, full of energy, appears jesting or irritable;
    • They have little need for sleeping;
    • Is characterized by uncritical attitude to their opinions;
    • Owing to accelerated rate of thinking, so called “racing thoughts”, they display difficulty with vocalizing own thoughts;
    • They have a sense of increased and stronger energy, believes that they “can and know everything”, “can do whatever they want”.
    • Grandiosity – a sense of own strength, power and being someone important, with significant social or political importance, not corresponding with the factual state.

    How such person behaves?

    • Psychomotor agitation which may make establishing contact more difficult;
    • Speaks a lot, rapidly and without logical link, jumps from subject to subject, so called “word salad”;
    • Tactless behaviour in company of others;
    • Taking dangerous, risky actions or decisions which a person later regrets;
    • Inclination towards conflict, aggression, engaging in fights;
    • Wanton sexual behaviour;
    • Excessive, ill-considered spending;
    • Increased need for creativeness and creative output;
    • A risk of overindulgence in psycho-active drugs;
    • Taking detrimental financial obligations.
    • The uncritical and unfounded sense of own strength and capabilities may be accompanied by willingness to satisfy own needs immediately. In such circumstances refusal, lack of consent or prohibition on the part of persons in the immediate surroundings for taking such actions may result in irritability, anger or even aggression;
    • In case of mania an irritable and irascible mood can at times manifest on its own, without external stimuli. It may be accompanied by verbal or active aggression aimed at other persons or objects in the surroundings as well as self-destructive behaviour;
    • Increased risk of suicidal thoughts and tendencies, particularly in the case of displaying irritable or irascible mood.

    How can you help?

    • If a student shares with you information regarding their mania thank them for their trust, attempt to jointly determine how can you help;
    • Do not treat any possibly insulting remarks personally; instead, try to separate a person from the illness. Simultaneously establish boundaries for behaviour, openly speak what words and behaviours will not be tolerated. The attitude of a person struggling against manic episodes may pose a significant challenge to your patience;
    • Immediately summon appropriate services if you feel that life of yourself, students or the afflicted person is at risk. Do not wait until psychomotor agitation increases in intensity, react when you feel the need;
    • You may ask which part of the classes you are delivering is the most challenging for the afflicted person and attempt to jointly determine what can be done to improve the situation;
    • If possible try to divide assessment into smaller stages, chunks of material etc,;
    • If you notice symptoms which may be indicative of mania but you are not certain you may tell a student that you worry about them because something has changed in their behaviour. Encourage the student to contact a specialist;
    • Relay to a student the information regarding Psychological Counselling Centre of the University of Szczecin; encourage a student to make an appointment with a general practitioner or a psychiatrist.
    • Inform a student about the possibility of taking individual course of studies.

    PTSD

    How a patient displaying symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder feels?

    • Such patient experienced or was a witness of events threatening their own life and health or life and health of people close to them.
    • Such events were accompanied by intense feeling of anxiety, fear, helplessness or dread;
    • Such experience results in development of trauma and returns as intrusive and painful memories, it can also manifest as dreams;
    • Such patient acts in a manner or experiences such emotions as if the event resulting in trauma was repeating itself, experiences hallucinations and flashbacks.

    What behaviour will allow you to recognize these symptoms?

    • The memories of the event resulting in trauma emerge as a result of association, e.g. with the sound heard during the accident or assault, e.g. the sound of an ambulance siren;
    • The association may relate to other stimuli, e.g. the colour of clothes. For instance, you wearing a yellow blouse and, e.g. the perpetrator of the assault wearing clothes in such colour may result in various unpleasant reactions on the part of a person suffering from PTSD;
    • At times PTSD symptoms may manifest as unexpected aggression when, e.g. a person with PTSD will associate a part of your wardrobe with assailant’s clothes which may result in uncontrollable need for protecting oneself.

    How can you help?

    • If a student shares with you that they are suffering from PTSD thank them for their trust and attempt to jointly determine what form of help you can offer.
    • You may ask which part of the classes you are conducting an afflicted person finds the most difficult, if it is e.g. publicly speaking to the group you may temporarily resign from engaging this activity. Ask about the most comfortable form of participating in  classes;
    • If you conduct classes in morning hours and a person with PTSD has a problem with waking up due to disturbed daily rhythm you may make an appointment to meet for consultations at a later hour;
    • If possible try to divide the material to be assessed into smaller chunks;
    • If you notice symptoms which may be indicative of PTSD but you are not certain you may tell a student that you worry about them because something has changed in their behaviour;
    • Relay to a student the information regarding the Psychological Counselling Centre of the University of Szczecin where a student can make an appointment and receive consultation with a trauma specialist;
    • Inform a student about the possibility of taking individual course of studies.

    SCHIZOPHRENIA, PSYCHOTIC STATES

    How a student feels?

    • Persons coping with psychosis frequently experience discomfort, may live in a constant state of fear resulting in strong tensions;
    • Delusions result in such person not accepting logical arguments;
    • Symptoms such as aural or visual hallucinations (a person sees or hears something that does not exist) may significantly lower concentration.
    • The hallucinations may result in the ill person speaking to themself but when approached by someone attempting to hold a conversation a some part of the consciousness of the afflicted person will respond (with the exception of severe psychotic outbursts).

    When a psychotic person presents a threat to themself and the surroundings?

    • When stimulated and agitated;
    • When they vocalize hallucinations with dangerous/disturbing content (e.g. claiming that they should kill themself or other person).

    From a statistical point of view persons coping with mental illnesses do not present a greater threat to the surroundings than healthy persons.

    What can you do?

    • Do not acknowledge hallucinations of the ill person (though you may be tempted to do so when you become impatient and exasperated with conversation);
    • Remain sincere and honest (I understand that you see yourself that way, I see it differently, the way in which people see the world is different);
    • Remain tactful (do not say: “You’re mental, talking nonsense, go get a treatment”, say: “I’m worried about you, maybe some part of your consciousness requires assistance of a doctor”).

    Sources:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBWRc6E86xE
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0LYSW15-PI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2Lbve9tnTc
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKUpVKpSdgI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWGvpsgXTcg
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVreJtC8-lc.
    Embracing the Fear. Bemis Judith, Barrada Amr.
    I morgen var jeg alltid en løve. Arnhild Lauveng

  • Students

    We want for You to fully participate in academic life! The Department for Affairs of Students with Disabilities of the University of Szczecin employs approximately 30 assistants ready to support our students, postgraduates and employees with disabilities. The assistants are divided into learning assistants, mobility assistants and typhlodydactics assistants.

    Do you wish to use help of an Assistant? Write to us or call us!

    Learning Assistant

    A Learning Assistant will:

    • make notes;
    • help with making copies;
    • assist You when using a library;
    • will help with getting things done at the University (e.g. in Dean’s Office or the Dormitory);
    • will be present during consultations with tutors/lecturers;
    • will help with other affairs (with prior appointment).

    Mobility Assistant

    A Mobility Assistant will:

    • accompany and help You with reaching place of residence, commuting to the University and back;
    • will help you with moving between lecturing halls.

    Typhlodydactics Assistant

    A Typhlodydactics Assistant will

    • prepare lecture/class notes in a form appropriate for a blind or partially sighted person;
    • convert the materials passed by the lecturer to Braille, enlarged font format or will ensure that the materials can be processed by text-to-speech software;
    • help with using a library;
    • will help with getting things done at the University (e.g. in Dean’s Office or the Dormitory);
    • will aid You during consultations with lecturers/tutors;
    • will help You to familiarize Yourself with unknown surroundings;
    • will help with other affairs (with prior appointment).
    1. A Disability Grant. If You are a student and You were issued a disability certificate You may apply for a disability grant. The application should be submitted online by logging into the e-prodziekan system.
    2. Co-financing of education expenses – the PFRON programme. If You are a student and You were granted a disability certificate regarding intermediate or significant degree of disability You may apply for co-financing of education expenses.
      The application for co-financing may be submitted in an electronic form without leaving home by using System Obsługi Wsparcia – SOW (Support Servicing System – SSS). The SSS provides assistance regarding submitting the application. You may use a wizard which makes applying for financing easier, a hotline as well as a mobile disabled person’s assistant, an employee of PFRON.
    3. Other forms of material aid. Students with disabilities can use other forms of material aid and assistance on the exactly same grounds as the remaining students.

    We invite all students and postgraduate students who require assistance with the learning process to consultations with a neurodidactics specialist.

    If You want:

    • to improve Your results in learning;
    • learn more easily, rapidly and efficiently;
    • improve Your memory, perception and attention;
    • improve concentration and develop capability for remaining attentive during prolonged tasks;
    • move fluently from one task to another;
    • develop Your individual style of learning;
    • solve problems creatively;
    • display acquired knowledge in a proper manner;

    enter a free training with a neurodidactics specialist.

    The training takes place in the Accessibility Department at 15, Kordeckiego St. Do You want to make an appointment? Call us or send us a message.

    Are You deaf or hard of hearing? Do You study at the University of Szczecin? Do You require services of a sign language interpreter? We will help You!
    We offer assistance and support of a sign language interpreter:

    • during classes and lectures,
    • when You are attempting to sort Your affairs at the University.

    How to receive support and assistance of a sign language interpreter? Send us a message.

    Are You a student of the University of Szczecin with mobility impairment? Are you moving by use of a wheelchair or crutches? Thanks to the “MAXImUS Dostępności (MAXImUS Accessibility)” project You can use transport services. Our driver will drive You:

    • from a Dormitory to the University,
    • to the library,
    • to the Psychological Counselling Centre,
    • to Your place of residence.

    Do You need transport? Write to us or call us!

read more ...

MAXImUS DOSTĘPNOŚCI (MAXImUS ACCESSIBILITY) is a project which received co-financing from the National Centre for Research and Development within the framework of the “Accessible University” contest. Period of implementation of the project 01.01.2021 – 31.10.2023. The primary beneficiary of the project is the University of Szczecin. The project is co-financed from the funds of the European Union within the framework of the Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development.

The goal of the project is to improve access to the University of Szczecin for students and postgraduate students with disabilities. The broadly understood “tearing down of the obstacles” shall be performed in six fields of University’s activity:

  • the organizational structure,
  • architecture,
  • support technologies,
  • implementation of procedures,
  • support for education and learning,
  • a series of coaching meetings aimed at increasing awareness regarding disability.

The project is addressed to academic, managerial and administrative staff of the University of Szczecin. The group of 625 will be covered with the support.

Eight tasks will be realized within the framework of the project.

  1. Improving accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) within the institutional range through verifying, updating and standardizing good practices effective at the University of Szczecin.
  2. Implementation of the updated procedures indicated in task no. 1.
  3. Improving effectiveness and expanding scope of operations of the Accessibility Department through improving accessibility to and expanding premises of the Department, realization of new tasks and expanding staff. Examples of activities: expanding Department’s premises, employing a psychologist, a neurodidactician, expanding specialized transport services.
  4. Implementation of new services supporting providing assistance and transport services for PwD as well as establishing the architectural accessibility specialist office.
  5. Improving competences of the staff of the University of Szczecin in regards to working with PwD through launching a series of training courses aimed at improving awareness regarding working with PwD, preparing video-training for a diverse range of professional groups employed at the University, realization of specialized courses for employees of the Department.
  6. Adapting the architectural and information infrastructure of the University of Szczecin to needs and requirements of PwD through various means including redevelopment aimed at increasing accessibility to premises of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Economics, Finance and Management as well as developing a mobile app supporting PwD in moving between buildings.
  7. Improving competences of students of the Faculty of Social Sciences in regards to accessibility for PwD through launching general design courses.
  8. Expanding knowledge of students of the Faculty of Health and Physical Education regarding the inclusive education through launching courses and furnishing the Sensory Processing workroom for Persons with Disabilities.
  • Contact us

    Head of the Department
    Justyna Markitoń, MA
    phone: +48 91 444 3870
    email: justyna.markiton@usz.edu.pl

    Accessibility Department
    15, Kordeckiego St.
    71-066 Szczecin

  • Accessibility Department Staff

    Student and administrative consultant
    Elżbieta Kozłowska, MA
    phone: +48 91 444 3870
    email: elzbieta.kozlowska@usz.edu.pl

    Neurodidactics specialist
    Monika Schab, MA
    phone: +48 91 444 3873

    University Accessibility Information Centre in Szczecin
    Maria Granda, MA
    phone: +48 91 444 3873
    email: cwod@usz.edu.pl

    Sign language interpreter
    Joanna Hryniuk, MA
    phone: +48 91 444 38 72
    email: joanna.hryniuk@usz.edu.pl