Support for lesson attendance, individual study and examinations
Support for lesson attendance
Attending lessons is widely considered the best way to reap the benefits of a university education, as it allows you to experience course content first-hand and is an opportunity to exchange opinions and interact with peers and lecturers. Participating actively in university life also means making the most of other student-related opportunities, such as conferences, seminars, study days, student assemblies and dissemination events. These events are perfect for learning more about a great variety of issues and content, making your own contribution, interacting with people from different fields, as well as broadening your cultural horizons and social life, thus making your study path richer and more stimulating.
The University of Padova offers dedicated services to encourage the participation of students with disabilities.
Buddy service
Students with disabilities can apply for a "buddy" to accompany them on foot or by public transport (bus, tram) so that they can attend lessons regularly or go to academic and institutional activities.
The service, which takes place within the City of Padua, is active during teaching periods and examination sessions, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Requests must be submitted to accompagnamenti.studenti@unipd.it no later than Tuesday of the previous week.
If you live or are domiciled in Veneto, reduced-rate passes are also available for your "buddy". For more information on rates and regulations, please contact Trenitalia and Busitalia Veneto (or your home province).
Students with reduced mobility who need equipped vans to reach the university lecture halls may apply for a financial contribution to cover the expenses associated with the public or private service of their choice. Some operators providing this service at subsidised prices are present in Studiare a Padova Card.
In order to apply for the financial contribution, it is necessary to be in possession of disability certification. The request can be made at any time during the academic year by writing to inclusione.studenti@unipd.it
LIS interpreting and Stenotype service
“LIS” is an Italian acronym which stands for “lingua dei segni italiana” (Italian sign language).
The LIS interpreting service is provided by qualified professionals and aims to ensure that you can participate actively in lessons, examinations, seminars, contact hours, and other learning activities organized during your degree in Padova.
The classroom stenotype service, also known as “remote streaming”, involves the real-time transcription of a lecture on computer. This way, you can follow lectures step by step as you read them on a screen; you will then receive the transcript file at the end of each lecture. Students wishing to use the LIS interpreting or stenotype service must apply before the beginning of each semester, i.e. as soon as your timetable is available, or by Tuesday of the previous week, if you apply on a weekly basis.
Support for individual study
Inclusion Tutors
Inclusion Tutors are specifically trained Master's or PhD students who collaborate with the Inclusion Unit - Student Services Office to foster:
- a positive attitude towards the disciplines being studied and the use of effective study management strategies and methods;
- full and active participation in university life (class attendance, seminar activities, satisfactory and productive relationships with classmates, lecturers, the Department Contact Person for Inclusion and Disability and others).
"Inclusion Tutors" are especially dedicated to newly enrolled students in order to promote their autonomy, greater levels of self-regulation and to maximize progress and success of the university pathway.
Therefore, if you have difficulties in a specific subject, or in building positive relationships with your classmates and lecturers, you can request the tutor for inclusion support to prepare for one exam and to create positive relations with the new context, when you feel the need for it.
To apply, you have to fill in this form. Please note that following your answers, if the Inclusion Unit finds it necessary, you may be contacted for an online or in-person interview to better define the support.
Requests for Inclusion tutors are taken up
from October 10th to October 30th for the first semester
from March 1st to March 20th for the second semester
Assignments will be arranged through a specific ranking list, based on tutors' availability and skills.
Update 20 February 2024
Technological aids
The Student Services Office provides a range of technological aids to support studying and teaching activities. They include:
- table and portable enlargers;
- software Jaws;
- reading software for learning disabilities (Italian, English, French, Spanish and German)
- Braille bars;
- portable recorders;
- FM and Bluetooth transmitters for hearing aids;
- an interactive whiteboard (in Italian, “LIM”).
These aids can be used freely either in the classroom or during exams. You can also borrow some of these devices and give them back at the end of the academic year.
Library Services
Students can use the “Alternative format books” service (Libri in formato alternative) at the School of Psychology library. You can:
- look up and take out digital materials (if already available);
- convert printed texts into digital format;
- ask for an interlibrary loan for texts or articles not available in the University libraries.
For opening times and addresses, please go to the page for the “Alternative format books” service (servizio “Libri in formato alternativo”), or send an e-mail to documenti.formatoalternativo@unipd.it.
Quiet Room
A place dedicated to special needs, self-study or with tutor support for students with disabilities, learning difficulties and other vulnerabilities.
Support for exams
As provided by Laws 17/1999 and 170/2010, students with disabilities or learning difficulties may apply for personalised examinations. Students with certified severe health conditions, vulnerability and other special needs may also submit their requests.
For each examination, the request for a customised test must be sent via the following form at least 15 days before the exam date.
The Inclusion Unit staff will then contact the professor to arrange the necessary 'reasonable adjustments'.
Some examples of customisations are:
- additional time
- technological aids
- a different exam format (written/oral or other)
- support by a tutor reader and/or amanuensis
Graphical representations of knowledge (conceptual maps, forms, etc.)
Graphical representations of knowledge (conceptual maps, forms, etc.) are compensatory study support tools which can reduce the impact that a specific impaired ability has on the student's performance, without facilitating him/her on the whole from a cognitive point of view (MIUR, Guidelines for the right to study attached to the Ministerial Decree of 12 July 2011).They are included within the list of compensatory measures provided for by Law 170 of 2010, and in some situations they can act as a valid support for written tests or oral expositions. Their use is assessed on a case-by-case basis, in collaboration with the professor, depending on the nature and structure of the examination and the specific needs of each student.
To learn more about maps and forms (what they are used for, how to realise them correctly, when to use them or not, etc.) you can watch these two italian videos:
The graphical representation of knowledge - Zamperlin
Compensatory tools and forms - Casadio
Student Services Office - Inclusion
Useful contacts:
Telephone: 049 8275038
E-mail: inclusione.studenti@unipd.it
Open: Monday and Wednesday 10 am to 1 pm
Tuesday 10 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 4.30 pm
Thursday 10 am to 3 pm
Friday 10 to 1 pm (by appointment only)
Facebook page: Università di Padova Inclusiva
