On the basis of the latest available data on disability in the Latin American and Caribbean region, an average of 12% of the population in this region lives with some form of disability (UN-ECLAC, 2012). 3 PC present in the Consortium (Costa Rica, Cuba and DR) despite having relatively strong legal frameworks in place to include PWD in all dimensions of society, require urgent policy action on disability in HE. In line with recent advancements at National, Regional & International level, ACCESS will operationalise these initatives in order to "Leave No One Behind" (Agenda 2030). Therefore, the overall objective of the ACCESS project is to improve accessibility, ensure learning conditions and foster policy change towards the inclusion of students with disabilities within the context of Higher Education in Costa Rica, Cuba and Dominican Republic via modern inclusion practices, training and networking. ACCESS will achieve that through concrete tangible outputs: 1. Increased inter-institutional cooperation and sharing of good practices via the needs analysis and transfer of know-how. 2. Enhancement of managerial, academic, teaching and administrative staff capacities in dealing with and implementing inclusive education practices.3. Creation of institutional support structures and assistive technology to enable access to HE and foster the consolidation of a social integration culture within universities. 4. Set up of 3 National Networks at each Partner Country, engaging with relevant stakeholders and enlarge with other PC HEIs and internaitonal experts.5. Development of a Regional network for the Inclusion of students with disabilities in HE.6. Increase public awareness and understanding on inclusive education within higher education institutions.
ACCESS has been framed with the main aim of improving accessibility, ensuring learning conditions and fostering policy change towards the inclusion of students with disabilities within the context of Higher Education in Costa Rica, Cuba and DR via modern inclusion practices, training and networking.
On the basis of the latest available data on disability in the Latin American and Caribbean region, an average of 12% of the population in this region lives with some form of disability (UN-ECLAC, 2012). Despite Costa Rica, Cuba and Dominican Republic (DR) having relatively strong legal frameworks in place to include persons with disabilities (PWD) in all dimensions of society, their situation requires urgent policy action on disability at HE level.
<< Background >> On the basis of the latest available data on disability in the Latin American and Caribbean region, an average of 12% of the population in this region lives with some form of disability (UN-ECLAC, 2012). Despite Costa Rica, Cuba and Dominican Republic (DR) having relatively strong legal frameworks in place to include persons with disabilities (PWD) in all dimensions of society, their situation requires urgent policy action on disability at HE level. << Objectives >> ACCESS has been framed with the main aim of improving accessibility, ensuring learning conditions and fostering policy change towards the inclusion of students with disabilities within the context of Higher Education in Costa Rica, Cuba and DR via modern inclusion practices, training and networking. << Implementation >> ACCESS was designed to achieve its objectives by: -creating a modern inclusive framework through the creation of Support Centres for students with disabilities, long-term strategies for the access and retention of these students in HE system and equip them with assistive technologies -establishing a National Network in each partner country and an overarching Regional Network to consolidate political interest for inclusion policies at HE level. << Results >> -Establishment/modernisation of 11 Support Centres (SC) for SWD-SC with new staff and AT equipment-11 Strategy Plan for the Sustainability of the SC-2.653 staff and students trained in inclusion & accessibility -1.539 participants in Inclusion & Disability online modules-Establishment of 3 National Networks in inclusion & action plans-Integration of ACCESS Network into RITIE-5 Round tables & 3 roadmaps for the formulation of policy papers