Student Services at IU

ENUYGAR Coordination Unit for disabled students provides information access services in collaboration with Disability Information Center which works under Istanbul University Central Library and Documentation Head Office.

 

Disability Information Center

Istanbul University Disability Information Center is a fully equipped center and gives services for visually impaired students and academic/administrative staff in Istanbul University Central Library. In the center, there are 20 computers with special screen reading programs, 10 computers with screen magnification programs, video magnifiers for persons with low vision, two Braille displays, three Braille printers, 5 optical character recognition programs and two relief graphics and image printing machines. Furthermore, there are two fully equipped cabins for audio books.

Institutional support, modificaitons and adaptations are provided for disabled students outlined below:

 Academic Accomodation

  • Registration priority and support in registration
  • Arrangement of the campus orientation
  • Services related to the provision of lecture notes-reader support, taking notes, taking voice recordings and other services (Preparation of training materials according to the student's preference via the Disability Information Center within the IU Central Library; e-texts, Braille printing, audio books, internet supply of welded materials)
  • Assistive assistant support in laboratory applications
  • Regulations on homework (Providing different applications in terms of presentation and duration in accordance with the student's preference)
  • Provision of special tools and equipment related to education to students with financial difficulties and giving them to students in a timely manner
  • Accessibility in exams
    • The following arrangements are made according to the student's preference:
      • Questionnaire in different formats - enlarged font, embossed font, audio file, etc.
      • Readers and / or markers of the exam terminology
      • Additional exam duration
      • Access to the exam room, single-room hall, etc.
      • Permission to enter the exam with the help of the necessary tools (medicine, medical equipment, hearing aid, magnifying glass, etc).

 

Social Support and Recreational Activities

  • ‘Independent Living Skills Training’ for visually impaired students
  • Pre-residence priority
  • Scholarship and opportunity in part-time working student program through the Counseling Counseling and Social Support Unit
  • Accessible architectural arrangements through the Department of Construction Affairs (placing ramps and lifts, arranging existing toilets, making elevators available)
  • Repositioning of classrooms and other activities in non-accessible buildings
  • Sport opportunities in accordance with the interests of the students(chess, tandem bike, etc)
  • Enabling to benefit from the Enez Summer Camp of IU
  • Regular ceramic and marbling courses in IU ENUYGAR Art Workshop
  • Social skills training and personal counseling services through the Career Development Center (KAGEM)
  • Provision of Psychiatrist and Psychological support services through Medico and Guidance Counseling Social Support Unit
  • Appropriate job opportunities after graduation through governmental and non-governmental organizations,

 

 

 

Operational Chart of ENUYGAR Coordination Unit for Students with Special Needs

 

 At the beginning of each academic year, ENUYGAR Coordinator Unit requests the list of SSS who enrolled to IU from the Registrar's Office.

 

 


A special congradulatory letter, signed by the Rector of IU is sent to the students’ home address, including the Brochures of ENUYGAR Coordinator Unit and  IU

Handbook for Equal Opportunities for Students with Special Needs

 

 


Students  that register to the Faculty’s Students Affairs Office are informed about ENUYGAR Coordination Unit and encouraged to visit/register personally or via internet web site

 

 


ENUYGAR Coordinator welcomes the student and provides information about the services

 

 


The student completes and signs the ‘Personal Information Form’ and declares for academic accommodations

 

 


All faculties, schools and institutes of Istanbul University have academic advisors (faculty members and residents) who are assigned to support students with SSS

 

 


ENUYGAR Coordinator fills the ‘Information Sharing Document’ belonging to the applicant student and sends them to Academic Advisors by closed envelopes through Faculty Deans, Schools and Institute Directors

 

 


The academic advisors and ENUYGAR Coordinator work jointly in order to provide the students with the services they require, and to carry out the course and exam adjustments in accordance with the needs of SSS

 


If necessary adaptations are not made, SSS applies to ENUYGAR Coordinator by e-mail or petition. With the Coordinator, he / she will fill out and sign the ‘Informative Document for the Instructor of Special Needs Students’ and hand it both to the academic advisor and the instructor.

 

 


In case of a contravention or negligence, Faculty Deans, Schools and Institute Director are informed

 

 


Academic advisors report to the ENUYGAR Coordinator twice a year (fall and spring semesters) for the students they are responsible for

 

 

 National Disability Network in Turkish Higher Education System

 

The development of ‘Disability Support Services’ varies across Turkish Higher Education  Institutes and there is a wide range of practices and resources available across different universities. There are 205 universities in Turkey; although the exact number is missing, most of them have support units for SSS.

 

‘Towards Inclusive Universities(TUI) Project’ has facilitated developement of the Turkish University-Disability Network. This was an international project funded by European Union in 2008. The main outcome of the project was the dissemination of outputs of the project to the target groups and beneficiaries and the creation of an online network of specialists supporting disabled students at university level for further cooperation. An e-mail based electronic platform has been formed in 2009. The group grew to over 400 in 5 years, and has stabilised around 550 members, from the majority of Turkis