Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University

It is an annex to the decision of our University Senate dated 18.07.2024 and numbered 2024/14.
 

REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE

ISTANBUL SABAHATTIN ZAIM UNIVERSITY

DISABLED STUDENTS UNIT DIRECTIVE

 

PART ONE

Introductory Provisions

Purpose

ARTICLE 1- (1) The purpose of this Directive is to determine the working procedures and principles of the Disabled Students Unit, which was established in order to take measures and make arrangements concerning the difficulties that undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities studying at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University may encounter during the course process and examination practices on account of their disabilities.

Scope

ARTICLE 2- (1) This Directive covers the provisions relating to the duties and activities of the Disabled Students Unit, which plans and organises work for students with disabilities studying at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.

Legal Basis

ARTICLE 3- (1) This Directive has been prepared on the basis of Article 14 of Higher Education Law No. 2547, Article 15 of Law No. 5378 on Persons with Disabilities dated 01.07.2005, and the Regulation Amending the Regulation on Counselling and Coordination for Persons with Disabilities in Higher Education Institutions dated 4/2/2014 and numbered 28913.

Definitions

ARTICLE 4- (1) In this Directive;

  1. Academic Unit: The Faculties and Institutes of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University responsible for conducting undergraduate and graduate education and teaching activities,
  2. Course: The compulsory and elective courses taught in the undergraduate and graduate programmes conducted in accordance with the regulations of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
  3. Disabled Students Unit: The Disabled Students Unit established at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University pursuant to Articles 11 and 12 of the Regulation,
  4. Disabled Student: A higher education student who, from birth or subsequently and for any reason, has lost his or her physical, mental, psychological, emotional and social abilities to varying degrees and therefore has difficulty adapting to social life and meeting daily needs, and who requires protection, care, rehabilitation, counselling and support services,
  5. Report: The Health Board Report on Disability for Adults and the Health Board Report Indicating the Condition of Adults Due to Terrorism, Accident and Injury, issued by the health board,
  6. Vice Rector: The Vice Rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim,
  7. Rector: The Rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim,
  8. Department of Health, Culture and Sports: The Department of Health, Culture and Sports of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
  9. Examination: The midterm, make-up, final, resit and single-course examinations held for undergraduate and graduate programmes at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
  10. University: Refers to Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
  11. Executive Board: The Executive Board of the Disabled Students Unit of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
  12. Regulation: The Regulation Amending the Regulation on Counselling and Coordination for Persons with Disabilities in Higher Education Institutions dated 4/2/2014 and numbered 28913,

shall have the meanings set out above.

General Principles

ARTICLE 5-(1) The principles set out below are observed in the delivery of the services covered by this Directive.

a) Taking into account the needs of students with disabilities, they are given the opportunity to continue their education together with their peers without disabilities within the framework of equality of opportunity in education.

b) The opinion of the Disabled Students Unit is sought and its participation is ensured in the decisions to be taken and the work to be carried out for students with disabilities in all academic units of the University.

Good Conduct

ARTICLE 6- (1) All academic and administrative staff of the University support students with disabilities whenever they need assistance and display good conduct towards students with disabilities in all procedures and transactions within the University.

 

PART TWO

The Disabled Students Unit And Its Duties

Disabled Students Unit

ARTICLE 7-(1) Under the chairmanship and responsibility of a vice rector responsible for education and teaching affairs as designated by YÖK, the Disabled Students Unit consists of coordinating teaching staff or teaching assistants specialised in the field of disability or in a field close to special education, together with representatives selected from among the administrators or academic staff to be appointed by the relevant departments, faculties, schools and institutes. The work of the Unit is directly subordinate to the Rectorate.

(2) The Disabled Students Unit carries out its activities on the University Campus within the Departments of Health, Culture and Sports.

Unit Coordinator:

ARTICLE 8- (1) The Coordinator consists of the branch manager serving within the Department of Health, Culture and Sports and the administrative staff working in the relevant unit. The Coordinator may be reappointed upon completion of his or her term of office. If the Coordinator leaves office before the end of the term, a new coordinator is appointed in his or her place.

(2) The duties of the Unit Coordinator are as follows;

  1. Represents the Unit.
  2. Assigns the duties of the personnel within the Unit.
  3. Convenes the Unit for executive board meetings.
  4. Prepares the official documents that require evaluation by the commission and submits them to the commission.
  5. Acts as rapporteur to the commission.
  6. Keeps statistical records of students with disabilities enrolled at the University and fulfils the related requirements.
  7. Monitors all activities planned or carried out for students with disabilities.
  8. Prepares the unit's internal and external correspondence.
  9. Archives official documents.
  10. Prepares the annual budget proposal and submits it to the Executive Board.
  11. Receives the requests, complaints and suggestions of students with disabilities, submits them to the commission and initiates the necessary procedures.
  12. Uses the passwords granted for access to official websites within the legal framework.
  13. Ensures that the unit's services are delivered, evaluated and improved in an orderly manner and in line with their purpose.

(3) Where deemed necessary, a Deputy Coordinator may be assigned by the Rector to support the duties falling under the responsibility of the Unit Coordinator.

Members and Working Procedures of the Executive Board of the Disabled Students Unit

ARTICLE 9- (1) The Unit Executive Board consists of the following members:

  1. Chair: Vice Rector for Education and Instruction
  2. Member: Coordinator of the Disabled Students Unit
  3. Member: Head of the Department of Health, Culture and Sports
  4. Member: Faculty Member Specialising in the Field of Disability
  5. Member: Head of the Department of Construction Works and Technical Affairs
  6. Member: Dean of the University's Faculty of Education
  7. Member: Representative of Students with Disabilities.

(2) The Vice Rector is the chair of the executive board. Decisions taken by the executive board enter into force upon the approval of the Vice Rector.

(3) Members of the executive board are appointed by the University for a term of one year. A member whose term has expired may be reappointed. If a member leaves before the end of their term, a new member is appointed.

(4) The executive board convenes in ordinary session at least twice during the academic year, once in each semester. Where necessary, it convenes in extraordinary session upon the call of the Unit Coordinator.

Disabled Students Unit Duties

ARTICLE 10-(1) The duties of the disabled students unit are as follows;

  1. Identifies the needs of students who are enrolled at the University and determined to have a disability in areas such as education, instruction, scholarships, administrative matters, physical conditions, accommodation and social life throughout their academic careers. Develops measures and solution proposals to address these needs. Makes the necessary arrangements in coordination with the departments and other units.
  2. Provides tools and equipment and prepares suitable teaching, research and accommodation environments so that undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities enrolled at the University can pursue their academic, physical and social lives in the least restrictive environment.
  3. Organises activities to raise awareness among the University's students and academic staff regarding disability, the difficulties that may arise from it and the accommodations that can be made; provides guidance to those concerned and, where necessary, offers in-service training.
  4. Organises seminars, conferences and similar activities to raise awareness in the field of disability.
  5. Prepares and implements the unit's work plan. Submits the annual budget plan and activity report for the required activities to the Rectorate.
  6. Creates and maintains a website that presents the activities of the Disabled Students Unit, publishes documents relating to disability, and allows students to share their requests, complaints and suggestions.
  7. Supervises the implementation of the decisions and strategies adopted by the Executive Board.
  8. Provides assistive tools and equipment free of charge to students with disabilities enrolled at the University who experience financial hardship.
  9. Takes the necessary measures and makes the necessary arrangements regarding examinations, such as time, venue, materials and accompanying invigilators, in line with the needs of students with disabilities, so that all students are assessed fairly regardless of disability.
  10. Provides students with disabilities enrolled at the University with information on employment opportunities.
  11. Assesses the buildings and open areas on the University campus in terms of accessibility, takes precautions and initiates infrastructure works.
  12. Records and reports all activities and work carried out by the disabled students unit.

 

Duties of the Executive Board

ARTICLE 11- (1) The duties of the Executive Board are as follows;

  1. Evaluates and follows up the applications made to the unit by students with disabilities enrolled at the University.
  2. Identifies needs, makes recommendations and takes decisions in order to improve the academic, social and physical conditions of students with disabilities enrolled at the University.
  3. Establishes standards to ensure that suitable environments and conditions are provided for students with disabilities enrolled at the University throughout their studies.
  4. Supervises the activities of the disabled students unit.
  5. Prepares the unit's annual activity report and submits it to the Rectorate.
  6. Evaluates and approves the annual budget proposal.
  7. Where necessary, refers to the Senate the activities that have been or will be carried out with regard to a barrier-free university.

 

PART THREE

Education and Teaching Practices

Course practices

ARTICLE 12-(1) In order to improve the academic lives of students with disabilities enrolled at the University within the scope of equal opportunity in education, the following arrangements are made before, during and after classes:

  1. Academic staff teaching at the University and academic advisors are obliged to keep the personal data of their students with disabilities confidential.
  2. Academic staff teaching at the University cooperate with the Disabled Students Unit, where necessary, regarding the measures to be taken before, during and after classes.
  3. The University provides the minimum physical conditions required so that the academic lives of students with disabilities are not disrupted.
  4. If there is a student with a hearing impairment in the class, the instructor takes measures regarding the seating arrangement and delivers the lesson in such a way that the students can see their face.
  5. Taking into account the needs of students with disabilities enrolled at the University, they are permitted to record what is taught in class using an audio recording device.
  6. Instructors make adaptations to the assignments and projects planned within the scope of the course, taking the student's disability into consideration.
  7. The University provides, as far as possible, the tools and equipment requested by students with disabilities who experience financial difficulties, and delivers them to the student for a limited period after registering them as fixed assets.

 

Examination Practices

ARTICLE 13-(1) In order to improve the academic lives of students with disabilities enrolled at the University within the scope of equal opportunity in education and to ensure fair and accurate assessment, the following arrangements are made before, during and after examinations by the relevant department/programme head in coordination with the Disabled Students Unit.

  1. The classrooms used for examinations taken by students with disabilities enrolled at the University are assessed in terms of accessibility, and the classroom is selected taking the disability into account.
  2. Invigilators are informed about the student with a disability.
  3. Where necessary, students with disabilities enrolled at the University are enabled to take examinations with assistive tools and equipment (hearing aids, telescopic or prismatic glasses, magnifiers, etc.).
  4. Where necessary, depending on the type of visual impairment, an assistant accompanies blind or partially sighted students during their examinations and acts as a reader-marker invigilator.
  5. Where necessary, depending on the type of visual impairment, the examination papers of blind and partially sighted students are prepared in formats such as enlarged font, audio file and the like.
  6. Requests by students with disabilities enrolled at the University to sit examinations individually are evaluated by the commission of the disabled students unit, taking into account the type and degree of the disability. If approved, they are enabled to sit the examination individually in the presence of an invigilator.
  7. If the requests of students with disabilities enrolled at the University are deemed appropriate, additional time of up to half of the examination duration may be granted.
  8. Students with disabilities enrolled at the University are permitted to take examinations with their medication and medical supplies.
  9. In line with the needs of students with disabilities enrolled at the University, they may be permitted to take a short break during the examination under the supervision of an invigilator.

 

Course Exemption and Adaptation

ARTICLE 14-(1) Students with disabilities enrolled at the University are not exempted from courses on the grounds of their disability. Exemption requests are evaluated and decided in accordance with the University's Education and Teaching Regulations and the provisions of the University's Exemption and Adaptation Directive.

PART FOUR

Miscellaneous and Final Provisions

Benefiting from Services

ARTICLE 15- (1) Students with disabilities who wish to benefit from the services set out in this Directive are required to submit to the Disabled Students Unit medical reports documenting their disability.

Cases Not Covered by These Principles

ARTICLE 16-(1) In cases not covered by this Directive, the request of the student with a disability is submitted to the disabled students unit through their academic advisor. The disabled students unit evaluates the matter and takes a decision.

Entry into force

ARTICLE 17 -(1) This Directive enters into force on the date it is adopted by the Senate.

Execution

ARTICLE 18- (1) The provisions of this Directive are executed by the Rector.