Kazimierz Pułaski University of Technology and Humanities in Radom – accessible to everyone
Project title
Kazimierz Pułaski University of Technology and Humanities in Radom – accessible to everyone
Name of Beneficiary/Beneficiaries
Kazimierz Pułaski University of Technology and Humanities in Radom
Name of programme
Operational Program “Knowledge, Education, Development”
Competition
Accessible University 2
Project value
PLN 5,094,039.53
Funding value
PLN 4,941,217.53
Project delivery period
04.01.2021 – 31.12.2023
Results of our work
Installation of two elevators in the buildings of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Commodity Science:
Photo 1: Elevator in the building of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
Photo 2: Elevator in the building of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Commodity Science
Issues addressed
As part of the project, we appointed a Representative for Persons with Disabilities, who is the main educational consultant and we established the Office for Persons with Disabilities, which provides psychological services. The support offered by the Office covers the education process, conducting scientific research and adapting the forms of assessments and examinations (under the “Policy of accessibility, education and conducting scientific activities for persons with special needs”).
The project allowed for increasing the accessibility of the university by eliminating a number of architectural, digital, communication and technical barriers through:
- installation of two elevators and construction of new entrances in the buildings of two faculties,
- adaptation of the university’s websites to the WCAG 2.1 standard,
- purchase and implementation of an IT system supporting the teaching of persons with disabilities (electronic examinations, online classes and tests, online defense of theses, virtual laboratories),
- purchase of 18 induction loops and remote sign language interpreter service,
- replacement of the entrance door to the Rectory building,
- lowering counters in two facilities,
- installation of horizontal markings and door signs for visually the impaired and blind.
Project beneficiaries
The results of the project benefit students with special needs who receive support in learning and conducting research from the Office for Persons with Disabilities and the Representative for Persons with Disabilities, a psychologist and trained management, teaching and administrative staff.
In addition, 441 employees were trained as part of the project in 8 training sessions, thanks to which they deepened their awareness in the following areas:
- shaping disability awareness;
- communication with the deaf and hard of hearing;
- mental disorders and mental health crisis;
- accessibility of text, graphics and websites for persons with disabilities;
- audio description in audiovisual materials;
- university management in the context of ensuring accessibility;
- support for persons with disabilities during practical classes;
- safety of persons with disabilities.
Major implementation challenges
The biggest challenge in implementing the project were investments related to the elimination of architectural barriers. Due to the increase in prices of construction materials and inflation, it was necessary to co-finance the investment from university’s own funds.