Dealing with changes in supporting students with disabilities in higher education

Abstract

This paper discusses necessary changes and adaptations faced in supporting students with disabilities at Linz University within the last 20 years and the methodology used compared to other support schemes around Europe. The research is based on findings from the study "Social Situation of People with Disabilities in Austria", the only formal Austrian study also dealing with disability and higher education (as information on a possible "disability" is numbered among "highly sensitive personal data" and therefore not formally surveyed during enrollment), findings from an own survey collecting information from support structures for students with disabilities at Universities in Europe and experiences from supporting students with most diverse (dis-)abilities, skills and knowledge. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.