Goal 10 / 10.6 / 10.6.9
Does your university provide support services for people with disabilities?
10.6.9 Does your university as a body provide access schemes for people with disabilities?
The Counseling Directorate
The counseling directorate provides mentoring and support services to students with disabilities/Special Needs, supporting their social, emotional and overall academic needs. Further they are responsible for ensuring (with recommendations from SNAC) that relevant faculty and staff are made aware of the student need and accommodations, while encouraging inclusion and confidentiality. Faculty and staff are also provided with an informative session on ideal means to work with students with special needs. Students with special needs are also surveyed in order to provide feedback on means to enhance support services.
Directorate of Student Counselling & Advising
https://www.ahlia.edu.bh/directorate-of-student-counseling-advising
Ahlia University's achievements in integrating students with special needs in higher education institutions."
Summary of Ahlia University’s Experience in Integrating Students with Special Needs in Private Higher Education Institutions
Ahlia University has been keen on ensuring equality for students with special needs by treating them like their peers among newly admitted students. The university also welcomes students with special needs to apply for all academic programs offered by Ahlia University. The acceptance of students with special needs is based on recommendations from a special committee that evaluates the nature of their needs, as well as their abilities and potential to succeed in the academic program they choose.
Support and guidance for students with special needs is provided by members of the faculty and staff at Ahlia University. The university’s counseling and guidance office also collaborates with the official in charge of special needs students to help them integrate into the academic system and overcome any difficulties that may hinder their progress.
Examinations
Exam location and duration:
When needed, students with special needs will be provided with a separate location that offers a suitable environment for writing the exam, or additional time for the exam as needed.
At all times:
The student’s circumstances will be considered by the instructor — for example, in cases of delay in arrival or difficulty in reaching the exam room.
Ahlia University strives diligently to provide a healthy and motivating environment to support and guide students with special needs.
Students with special needs are encouraged to participate in general student activities inside or outside the university.
The university encourages all students to participate in local, regional, and international events designed to celebrate student achievements. In addition, specially designed events are held for students with special needs.
Ahlia University held its first conference on the inclusion of students with special needs in 2016, in which many professionals, educational institutions, and experts participated. The university plans to hold the second forum in September of the coming year.
In alignment with community partnership and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), Ahlia University launched the “Recycle and Donate” campaign. This campaign aimed to collect plastic and donate proceeds to support the purchase of wheelchairs for persons with disabilities. The university collected a total of 1675.3 kg of plastic, equivalent to 139.6 kg of carbon emissions. The campaign will continue until the end of the current academic year (2022/2023).
The initiative included a number of lectures on environmental sustainability and saw participation from specialists from Kuwait and Bahrain. Proceeds were donated to the Bahrain Association for Parents and Friends of the Disabled.
Ahlia University has graduated approximately 90 students with special needs.
There are 31 students with special needs currently enrolled for the second semester of the academic year 2022/2023.
Supporting students with special needs
Students with special needs are given support and guidance by Ahlia University faculty and staff, Directorate of Student Counseling, and Directorate of Student Activities and Services. Further, a special needs committee was created to specifically look after the welfare of the students with special needs.
The student, after having been provisionally admitted to the University, will be interviewed by the special needs admission committee (SNAC). If the Committee, by majority vote, determines that the University can accommodate the kind of disability or special need with which the student is encumbered, the student will be granted admission to the University. Thus, making it possible for the student to avail of all the privileges/benefits conferred to disabled students and students with special needs as contained herein [2].
Figure 2. Policy for supponting students with special needs, taken from [2]
Modifications on policy for supporting students with special needs
Figure 3. Modifications on policy for supporting students with special needs, taken from [3]
Employing the E-Learning Environment to Support People with Special Needs During the Challenges of the Coronavirus Pandemic
https://www.facebook.com/ahliauniversitybh/posts/1076227612760846
Organized by the Professional Development Unit and the College of Business Administration, a lecture was held (Employing the E-Learning Environment to Support People with Special Needs During the Challenges of the Coronavirus Pandemic) by Dr. Osama Al Mahdi, Assistant Professor at the Bahrain Teachers College, via the application (Ms. Teams) [4]
As the lecture dealt with the concept of special needs and distance education. In addition, examples of applications of the e-learning environment for special needs and open university courses to support continuous distance education were reviewed.
Ahlia University policy allows equal access to different mentoring programs, along with support for students with disabilities - special needs supporting their social, emotional and academic needs.
The direction of counselgeria ensures that teachers and staff are aware of the needs and adaptations of students by promoting inclusion and confidentiality (based on the recommendations of SNAC) staff and faculty host an information session on the means to work with Special students, in turn, are recruited to improve support services.
The Admission Process for Persons with Disabilities at Ahlia University Disability collaborates with students with disabilities to ensure equal access to all programs through a fair admissions process that determines a candidate's eligibility based on their chances of completing the undergraduate or degree process. The admissions process at Ahlia University is non-discriminatory. Ahlia university works with the students with disabilities to create an accessible and supportive environment, securing the necessary accommodations from academic departments and, if needed, other offices. Academic accommodations are provided to students with disabilities by their individual professors within the academic departments. Accommodations will be considered reasonable when they do not fundamentally alter the nature of a program, course, or service or present an undue administrative burden on the University. Students requesting accommodations are required to submit documentation to verify eligibility.
Tuition Discounts
https://www.ahlia.edu.bh/ahlia2020/
Orphans and people with special needs: 50%
High school graduates 95% or more: 50%
High school graduates 90% or above: 25%
High school graduates 80% or more: 20%
Financial Aid for Undergraduate Degree Applicants with Special Needs
https://www.ahlia.edu.bh/student-handbook/
As part of Ahlia University's community engagement, the university offers 50% tuition fees discount for all applicants with special needs/disability provided that they have a special need/disability card from the Bahraini Ministry of Labor and Social Development. Ahlia University aims to provide the appropriate care and learning environment for these applicants in order to qualify them to integrate into society and the business market.
Ahlia University has the next funding strategies for persons with disabilities
https://www.ahlia.edu.bh/cms4/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Student-Handbook-MAR19-RFW.pdf
Students who have been acknowledged as disabled (students with special needs) by the Ministry of Social Development and issued a ‘disability card’ certifying their need are given a 50% discount in fee by Ahlia University.
Students with special needs/disabilities might receive a full scholarship by the Ministry of Education.
Students are also allowed to installment payment options for pending and remnant fees.
Ahlia University has financing strategies for people with disabilities which are recognized by the Ministry of Social Development and have their "disability card" they receive a 50% discount on the Ahlia University fee, they can receive installment payment options of pension and remaining fees, or full scholarship from the Ministry of Education.
Regarding strategies for people with disabilities, the kingdom has developed "the national strategy for people with disabilities" which focuses on improving the promotion and protection of the human rights of people with disabilities.
The strategy provided by the kingdom includes government sectors, NGOs, the private sector, professional groups, educators, advocates and society in general; providing guidance to move forward in a way that ensures the inclusion of people with disabilities, with a focus on human rights. In accordance with this, various laws and resolutions have been issued that ensure the government's commitment to support these people.
Ahlia University offers a limited number of scholarships each year for undergraduate studies to outstanding students, who have no other means to finance their studies these scholarships allow applicants regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, physical or learning disability. Scholarships are awarded with a 50% grant: 50% loan through a competitive application process. The university prioritizes applicants with the most opportunities for success based on aptitude, academic achievement, and motivation. Funding scholarships can also be accessed by applicants with disabilities in which case they must demonstrate eligibility according to their opportunity for completion of studies either undergraduate or graduate, the applicant must submit medical documents attesting to their disability.
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