Identify student user groups

General

User groups are made to plan support resources and activities. However, remember that assuming things about students or putting them into categories must be avoided.

Related topics

Key tips

Student abilities & learning activities

The 2011 World Report on Disability published by the WHO provides the following definition of Disability: “Disability is a mismatched interaction between the features of a person’s body and the features of the environment in which they live”.

  • Focus is on the learning activities that the student has to participate in to achieve the learning goals.
  • The goal of the student support service is removing the barriers that prevent some students from participating on equal terms.
  • The 2 main activities of the support service are supporting the students and monitoring and assuring the accessibility of the learning activities.
Duration of support service provision
  • Temporary disabilities.
    • Students who experience short-term impairment. Eg.students recovering from an accident.
    • They may need support during the remainder of the course.
    •  specific support actions for students in this circumstance.
      • Evaluate the potential barriers for the student in the remaining learning activities.
      • Arrange with teachers adaptation to accommodate the current abilities of the student.
      • Provide the student with technical aids and/or assistance if necessary for as long as he/she is affected by the impairment.
  • Permanent disabilities.
    • Students affected by disabilities from the beginning of the academic period.
    • The supporting activities can be planned from the start of the course.
  • Difference from temporary support actions.
    • The evaluation of the learning activities can be made before the start of the course.
    • Teachers can be notified and advised on how to make the learning activities more suitable for all.
Type of support
  • Minimum support.
    • Students with or without disabilities who do not need to use assistive technologies.
    • The main supporting activities are the basic ones like assuring the accessibility of the learning activities and being available for consultations.
  • Basic support.
    • Students who are users of ATs.
    • Additional activities of the supporting office are:
      • Counselling and pairing students with the most suitable AT for them and the learning activities in which they will be involved.
      • Verify that the educational materials can be used by AT users.
      • Advise teachers on improving the learning activities so that they can accommodate for greater student diversity.
  • Assistance-level support.
    • Students who will need special adaptation to overcome the barriers. Eg. a student with a hearing impairment attending a live lecture. A sign language interpreter or transcriber may be required.
    • Additional activities of the supporting office are:
      • Create the individual plan for student support carefully and in advance if possible.
      • Notify teachers of the need to adapt some learning activities and inform them of the procedures and standards for doing so.
      • Clarify with the student who is going to provide the adaptation and if necessary help them with the coordination, material provision and space they may need.
      • If the student does not have the professional assistance that they need then the supporting office may help in finding assistance and funding.
      • Some examples of student assistance are:
        • Sign language interpreter.
        • Transcription service.
        • Assistance when taking tests.
        • Accompaniment for students with reduced mobility or vision.
        • Laboratory assistants for students with reduced dexterity.