AccessAbility Week

Within an inclusive educational system accessibility and diversity are the norm, were one reasons from a student population with and without a support question. It is important to create a safe study climate where every student feels at home. To reinforce this, the Netherlands ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2016. The Convention stipulates that people with disabilities must be given equal rights in housing, education, transport, work and a number of other areas and is based on inclusion, personal autonomy and full participation. Inclusion means that everyone can participate and contribute to society. Therefore, the right to education is an important part of the Convention. The right to education means not starting from difficulties, but from talents and opportunities. With accessibility, personal autonomy and full participation as starting points.

The right to education means not starting from difficulties,
but from talents and opportunities.

The education system, culture, policy and practice determine whether students can participate optimally in the study process. It is important for students with support needs to feel valued, respected, involved and heard. By students who need support, we mean students who experience barriers because of a disability, chronic illness, psychological complaints, pregnancy, young parenthood, gender transition or special family circumstances such as informal care.

To ensure inclusive education, the education system
must be available, accessible, acceptable and adaptable.

To ensure inclusive education, the education system must be available, accessible, acceptable and adaptable (UN Committee on Disability, CRPD/C/GC/4, §20-26) with the proposed transition from the medical model to the social model.

• Availability is related to the supply of education. There should be a wide range of educational institutions and programmes.

• Accessibility means that all aspects of education must be accessible to people with different disabilities. This includes buildings, teaching materials and social activities.
• Acceptable means that education should be of good quality for all students.
• Adaptable means that the education must be flexible in terms of curriculum and testing.

In 2018, Rob Mudde signed the declaration of intent of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on behalf of TU Delft. With this, TU Delft endorses the importance of equal opportunities for all students. TU Delft also has a legal obligation in this matter (see ‘de Wet op het Hoger Onderwijs en Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek en de Wet Gelijke Behandeling’).

When later in 2018 the TU Delft started working on a new policy plan on studying with a functional impairment a student focus group was set up by Education and Student Affairs. In 2020, this peergroup grew into the student platform Student Onbeperkt. It is a valuable and active student group that gives input and provides feedback to the TU Delft. Moreover, it is a place where students with a disability can meet other peers.

Horizon strives for all students to be able to start,
to take part in and to complete their studies
with interest and feelings of joy.

On the 1^st of September 2021 a central desk, named Horizon, was established within the department of Education and Student Affairs. Horizon was set up within the team of student counselors and with the aim of contributing to improving the guidance of students with a disability or other special needs. Horizon strives for all students to be able to start, take part in and complete their studies with interest and feelings of joy. Also employees of TU Delft, such as lecturers, members of the boards of examiners and academic counselors, can ask for advice regarding to studying with a disability at the TU Delft.

TU Delft strives to be a safe, accessible and inclusive environment

Many of the TU Delft student population have a functional impairment or a need for support that inhibits their studies to a greater or lesser extent. TU Delft strives to be a safe, accessible and inclusive environment, where we cherish diversity and in doing so encourage creativity, well-being, and innovation. This ambition requires courage, creativity, and participation from everyone.

In March 2021 the ‘Onbeperkt Studeren Week’ was organized by Horizon and Student Onbeperkt to raise awareness on studying with a disability. A year later, in March 2022, it was organized by for a second time. Due to the international character of the university and the broadening of the aim and scope of the eventweek, it was renamed in 2023 as the AccessAbility Week.

This year the AccessAbility Week is organised from the 20th/24th of March 2023 for both students and staff of the TU Delft. The tagline of this years eventweek is Opening Doors Towards Inclusive Education. We want to call attention to the topic of ‘studying with a request for support due to a disability, chronic illness, psychological disorder or special personal- and family circumstances’.

We warmly invite everyone from the TU Delft community
to join the various activities during the AccessAbility Week 2023.

We want to raise awareness about what studying with a disability or extra support need entails. By organizing a variety of activities we hope to contribute, inform and learn about inclusive education and make the university more accessible.  Let us open these doors; get inspired, meet & connect, share experiences and knowledge to make the university more inclusive.