Duration: 2021 – 2022
Principal Researcher
Cristina Peixoto
Team Members
Didiana Fernandes
Márcio Nascimento
Joana Fialho
Sara Felizardo
Funding
IPV
Research line:
Education, Citizenship and Inclusion
In the universe of students with special educational needs (SEN), it is up to higher education institutions (HEIs) to adapt and provide the necessary means for learning that guarantee quality education and equity. To achieve these goals, the academic community must be made aware of the different specificities they face in the academic space. On the other hand, information must be communicated in a way that can be interpreted by everyone, as well as institutional activities. Similarly, the social conditions that we face on a daily basis as a result of the pandemic, the financial difficulties exacerbated by the pandemic, the individual responsibility for daily management, the possible lack of family support and the difficulties in adapting to the academic environment are variables that affect academic performance and are related to mental health problems, namely depression and suicide, a new paradigm to be faced in HEIs. In this context, 3 webinars on SEN in higher education were organised; 1 series of conferences on mental health; 1 course in Portuguese Sign Language (PSL) aimed at the community of the Polytechnic of Viseu (PV); 1 cultural event on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, attended by PV students and former students with SEN; and 1 screening of a film on SEN and a debate aimed at the community in general. In addition, 1 psychiatrist was hired to work with the academic community and an PSL interpreter was hired to subtitle institutional videos.