INnet CAMPUS Antwerp Els Pazmany Beno Schraepen Department

INnet. CAMPUS Antwerp Els Pazmany, Beno Schraepen Department of Health and Wellbeing AP University College Antwerp Belgium 1

Why do we participate in INnet. Campus? • The context of Flanders: just starting with inclusive education in a structural way • Education for children with disabilities: organized in segregated schools: ‘special education’ only primary and secondary schools 38% of people that completed special education are unemployed after 1 year • 2015: M-decree in primary and secondary education parents have the right to enrol their child in a regular school and schools have to provide reasonable adjustments • No urgency to invest in inclusive third level education only 3% of people with disabilities hold a degree in third level education

Why do we participate in INnet. Campus? • The context of University college AP: • Merged in 2014, new policy • New infrastructure/structures: accessibility? universal design? => INnet. Campus is testcase • To date: a few single cases of students with disabilities, in the future: more students to be expected • Create awareness amongst staff on every level

Why do we participate in INnet. Campus? • Other stakeholders: Create awareness in society • Parents, special schools, students, teachers, etc. • Support expectation that students with disabilities can participate in third level education

The call: Inclusion-criteria: a) to hold an official document as a person with a disability b) to be between 15 and 19 years old c) to be enrolled as a student in the last year of secondary school d) to have a sufficient level of English in order to be able to understand actively communicate with others

The call was sent to: • Whole Department of Health and Wellbeing, AP • • • University college: staff and students Department of Education of the city of Antwerp Flemish universities and University Colleges Several umbrella organizations involved in the Flemish educational system All directors of secondary schools in Flanders including both the regular schools and the schools for special needs education All directors of the Pupil Guidance Centers Several parental associations for children with disabilities

The call was presented: • On the website of an organization who supports all Flemish higher education institutions in implementing the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (SIHO) • On a symposium on the topic of inclusion for secondary schools and teachers on March 2 nd 2015. • In one school for special education in Antwerp

Difficulties/challenges related to the inclusion-criteria and recruitment of Belgian students for the INnet. CAMPUS 2016 • Challenge 1: To hold an official document as a person with a disability. • Challenge 2: To be between 15 and 19 years old. • Challenge 3: To be enrolled as a student in the last year of secondary school. • Challenge 4: To have a sufficient level of English.

Challenge 1: To hold an official document as a person with a disability. • Official certification from the governmental organization of persons with a disability of Flanders • Vlaams Agentschap voor Personen met een Handicap (VAPH) • Narrow view on disability: • mostly physical impairments were considered e. g. blindness, deafness, mobility issues, etc. ÞStudents with mental disorder and/or cognitive impairments were also included e. g. autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, etc.

Challenge 2: To be between 15 and 19 years old. • Initially: age limited to 18 years • Some potential participants were older than 18 years => Age was extended: 19 years • Remarkable that many parents were not willing to give permission for participation to their child that wanted to participate. More concerned – overprotection?

Challenge 3: To be enrolled as a student in the last year of secondary school. • Its seems that schools, both ‘regular’ and ‘special needs’ schools thought the call was not applicable to their students and/or were not interested in participating • some students were refused to participate at the campus in Antwerp (2 days school absence) => information session was organized in one special needs school

Challenge 4: To have a sufficient level of English. • Initially: hold an official certificate of English Not possible, too expensive Þ‘sufficient level of English’ ÞAll candidates were included

INnet. CAMPUS 2016 • Only 6 Belgian participants (instead of 15) Number Gender Age Disability Campus 1 Female 19 Physical Impairment Granada 2 Male 19 Autism Spectrum Disorder Granada 3 Male 18 Autism Spectrum Disorder Granada 4 Male 18 Autism Spectrum Disorder Granada 5 Female 17 6 Male 19 Autism Spectrum Disorder - Lisbon Asperger. Physical Impairment Antwerp

Difficulties/challenges related to the organization of INnet. CAMPUS Antwerp 2016 • Challenge 1: Organization of the campus during an • • academic holiday and during exams Challenge 2: Organization of the campus at different locations of AP University College Challenge 3: Including different courses from different study programs Challenge 4: Including different social activities Challenge 5: Accessibility and mobility

Challenge 1: Organization of the campus during an academic holiday and during exams • Most ideal: during academic year • Students, lectureres present, all student services available • No tradition of summer schools in Belgium • But not possible for portuguese and spanish students ÞPlanned from August 28 th –Sept 2 nd Academic holiday/Exams => Challenge to find available rooms and lecturers

Challenge 2: Organization of the campus at differen locations of AP University College Challenge 3: Including different courses from different study programs • lot of effort to engage head departments and staff to participate • initial confirmations but last minute cancellations Þcampus (location and courses) was mainly organized campus Spoor Noord, department ‘Health and Wellbeing’ campus Ellermanstraat, department ‘Science and Technics’ ÞTwo activities on two other campuses ÞSome external organizations were contacted for giving courses

Challenge 4: Including different social activities • No inclusion of people with disabilities in society • Accessibility is lacking on public transport, cafés, sports, etc. =>inclusive activities were organized e. g. guided city tour, having a drink at a café Challenge 5: Accessibility and mobility • City of Antwerp: hardly not accessible for people with mobility problems => Students used public transport or taxi’s • Brand new building of AP University college: inaccessible for people with visual problems =>Assistants helped students with visual problems

Participants of INnet. Campus Antwerp 2016 Number Nationality Gender Age Disability 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Spanish Spanish Portuguese Moldavian Belgian Male Female Female Male 18 17 17 16 15 17 18 16 19 Visual impaired 75% Attention Deficit Disorder 46% Visual impaired 83% Hearing impaired 34% Autism Spectrum Disorder - Asperger 33% Dyslexia (mild to moderate) Visual impaired 95% Motor Disability 70% Hearing impaired (severe) Congenital Muscular Dysptrophy 78% Physical impaired 66%

Student’s evaluation • 1 = very negative • 2 = negative ACTIVITIES Mean score • 3 = neutral Welcome & intro 4, 1 Introduction facilities for students 3, 9 Gate 15 & city tour 4, 4 Research & practice 4 Visit technical campus 2, 9 Occupational therapy 3, 9 Media workshop 4, 4 Movement & creativity 3, 6 Legal position of young people 3, 2 Visit school of arts 4, 6 Certification 4, 5 • 4 = positive • 5 = very positive

Student’s evaluation • 1 = very negative • 2 = negative PROGRAM IN GENERAL Mean score • 3 = neutral 3, 8 • 4 = positive Activities were adapted to the level of the group • 5 = very positive Possibilities for student participation 4 Activities were balanced (active, passive) 3, 9 There were enough activities 4 The rhythm and pace of the activities 3, 5 The time schedule 3, 8

Student’s evaluation • 1 = very negative • 2 = negative • 3 = neutral • 4 = positive • 5 = very positive ACCOMODATION AND MEALS Mean score Rooms at the hostels 4, 3 Breakfast at the hostel 3, 9 Lunch 2, 9 Dinner at Agora café 3, 9

Student’s evaluation • 1 = very negative • 2 = negative • 3 = neutral • 4 = positive • 5 = very positive COORDINATION & INCLUSIVE CAMPUS WORKERS Mean score Monitors from your own country 4, 8 Monitors from AP University College 4, 6 Coordinator AP university College 4, 6 Transport during the week 4, 8

Student’s evaluation • 1 = totally disagree • 2 = disagree • 3 = neutral • 4 = agree • 5 = totally agree INnet CAMPUS. . . Mean score Has encouraged me to study a college career 3, 9 Has helped me to clarify what I do want to study in the future 3, 6 Has helped me to understand the functioning and the structure of the university in general 4, 1 Has allowed me to develop new skills and capabilities 3, 8 Allowed me to establish new friendships 4, 6 Has helped me to develop new personal and academic skills 4 Has given me a greater inclusion with others 4

Student’s evaluation • 1 = very negative • 2 = negative • 3 = neutral • 4 = positive • 5 = very positive INnet Campus Mean score Global valorization of the INnet Campus 4, 1 Would you repeat this experience? 4, 7 Would you recommend this experience to friends? 4, 7 Has INnet Campus fulfilled your expectations? 4, 3

Student’s evaluation • What did you like the most? • Visiting the city (n=5) • Making new friends (n=5) • Occupational therapy (n=2) • Media workshop (n=2) • Experience of new activities (n=1) • Practicing English (n=1)

Student’s evaluation • Suggestions for improvement? • More adaptations for people with vision problems (n=3) • Shorter duration of activities (n=2) • More talks with participation/interaction (n=2) • Less theory, more practice (n=1) • Comfortable chairs (n=1) • More variety of subjects (n=1)

• Bastien video

• Mayra, 18 years old, lives in Antwerp and participated at INnet. Campus Lissbon and Antwerp. I got to know myself better. You learn how to cope with certain situations. I also became more social. Before my participating at the campus, I had difficulties with posing questions to my teachers. Nowadays, I often pose questions and I say ‘Hi’ or ‘good morning’ to people I meet in the corridor.

Has INnet. Campus influenced AP university college Antwerp? • Improvements of inclusion in university college? • Not visible or measurable… • BUT: Awareness on all levels! • Heads of departments • Heads of study programs • Teachers • Students

INnet. Campus Antwerp 2017 Program so far More study programs are involved!!! • Department of Health and Wellbeing • Study Program ‘Orthopedagogie’ • Occupational therapy (Myriam vanschel) • Sports (Veerle De wit) • Study Program ‘Ergotherapie’ (Vergauwen Kuni) • Study Program ‘Social work’ (Michel Tirion) • Department of Media and Management • Study Program ‘Media’ (Frateur Wouter) • Study Program ‘Office management’ (Patrick Stroobandts) • Study Program ‘ICT’ (Dams Tim) • Central student’s services (Van Loo Debbie)

INnet. Campus Belgium 2017 Candidates N=4 • Boy, 17 years, dyspraxie • Boy, 18 years, physical impairment 80% • Boy, 19 years, autism spectrum disorder • Girl, 16 years, mental impairment

Thank You! els. pazmany@ap. be beno. schraepen@ap. be