Disability and Higher Education in Greece

What is covered by the concept of disability in HE

According to the Law 3699/2008, pupils with disabilities and special educational needs are those who face serious learning difficulties due to perceptual, mental, developmental or neuro-psychiatric problems and disorders that, based on a multidisciplinary evaluation (see below), influence the process of school adaptation and school learning.

Students with disabilities or special educational needs are mainly those with mental disabilities, deafness, blindness or visual impairment, developmental disabilities such as autism, learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD. They also include students with chronic illness, those with complex or multiple physical, mental and emotional disorders, as well as those with behavioral disorders due to abuse, parental neglect, abandonment or violence. Pupils demonstrating low school performance causally related to extrinsic factors, such as linguistic or cultural differences are not considered pupils with special educational needs.

Special educational needs of pre-school and school age pupils are diagnosed and assessed by the multidisciplinary Special Diagnostic Evaluation Committee of the local Centres for Differential Assessment, Diagnosis and Support of Special Education Needs, as well as by the certified Medical-Pedagogical Centres. On the basis of the type and the degree of the pupil's special educational needs identified, the scientific teams of these Centres subsequently recommend the most appropriate educational program and framework and specify the time for re-evaluation.

Although legislation of Special Education refers mostly to Primary and Secondary Education, the meaning and evaluation of disability applies also in Higher Education.

How services that support students with disabilities are organised

Special Education in Greece is within the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs. The Directorate of Special Education of the Ministry has responsibility for all issues concerning people with Special Educational Needs. The National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (http://www.esaea.gr/), founded in 1989 by people with disabilities and their families, holds the official position of the Social Partner on issues related directly or indirectly to persons with disabilities and work, to the promotion of policies conducive to full participation of the disabled in social, economic, political and cultural life. The core values of the Confederation are self-representation, participation, solidarity and partnership. In addition, there are other disability unions representing different types of disabilities, such as the National Federation for the Blind (www.eoty.gr) and the Greek Federation for the Deaf (www.omke.gr).

Disabled university students are offered the following special educational facilities :

• The Secretariats of the University Departments keep the students informed about the study program, course timetable, and any changes related to their student status.
• They are facilitated during the exams (oral exams if necessary, accessible exam rooms, under the escort of the university officials or their own people etc.).
• Throughout the academic year they have the support of a university professor who offers tutoring and may report the student’s problems to the university authorities if necessary.

Students with disabilities are offered a monthly allowance which depends on the kind of disability.

Disabled university students are provided with advisory services and psychological support by the staff of the University Couselling Centres. The role of these centres is to offer counselling services to all university students.

Certain Departments have established accessibility units for students with disabilities. For instance, the National and Kapodestrian University of Athens has established the “Accessibility Unit for Students with Disabilities” (http://access.uoa.gr) in order to facilitate equal access for disabled students to academic studies. The Unit deals with matters of environmental and building adjustment and offers assistive technology and access services. Similar services are offered to university disabled students by the “Disabled Students Accessibility Office” which has been established at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Special education and training schools and units are fully financed by the Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs. Institutions providing supportive services which have been founded by the association of parents of disabled children or by associations of people with disabilities, which are partly self-financed and partly financed by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Social Security.

National disability legislation

Greek legislation covers various aspects of life for disabled people . In the context of social protection there is a multitude of laws and regulations that remove the obstacles and difficulties in the social integration of disabled people and provide a range of facilities and benefits related to the following areas:

• Education of people with disabilities: it is free of charge; the form of special education schools is determined by the nature and extent of the pupils’ special educational needs.
• Work and Employment: the legislation facilitates the equal participation of the disabled in society, production, consumption and removes all forms of exclusion and marginalization.
• Health, Welfare and Social Security: a minimum level of social protection of disabled people is ensured by providing them with free medical care, financial assistance and rehabilitation services.
• Transport and Communications: accessibility services are provided.

National policy for students with disabilities

The national policy for disabled students is reflected through the legislation for Special Education.  Within the context of the National Strategic Development Framework 2007 – 2013, a basic priority of the Operational Program for Education and Lifelong Learning is to support the access and participation of all citizens in the educational system. Emphasis has been given to the education of individuals with disabilities and the socially disadvantaged. Pilot and developmental programs and actions are being promoted for the education of persons with disabilities regarding:

• staff training and further education,
• development of educational materials and assessment tools,
• services for children with multiple disabilities, autism and mental disorders,
• promotion of lifelong learning,  and
• removal of  social prejudices against persons with disabilities.

Student financial supports

Higher Education in Greece is public and is provided exclusively by the State. Admission and registration to Higher Education Institutions as well as attendance at university, textbooks and participation in exams are provided to students free of charge.

Furthermore, all undergraduate and postgraduate students have reduced prices on all public transport, museums, theatres, art galleries and special artistic events.  Many students, depending on their family and personal income, may have their living and accommodation expenses covered while undergraduate students pursuing their studies in a city other than the one they live permanently may be granted an accommodation allowance. Moreover, students facing financial problems have the right to take interest-free student loans from Greek credit institutions of their choice, on condition that they have successfully passed the exams for all the obligatory classes of the previous semester and they have not exceeded their maximum time for their studies. All students, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, are also entitled to free health care until the end of their studies.

Scholarships are granted by the State Scholarships Foundation to undergraduate students getting full marks. Besides this, a certain number of scholarships and allowances are offered to students through various legacies and donations from individuals and legal entities.