New Perspectives in Science Education

In 2010, the European Union adopted the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe. The report describes ways for European institutions to meet the terms of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and implies the commitment of each European nation towards achieving a barrier-free participation of its citizens in the economy and community life. Correspondingly, Bulgaria developed the National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities (2008-2015; 2016-2020) and the Action Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2015-2020). Accessibility improvements such as distance training for people with special needs and the inclusion of accessibility curricula in appropriate disciplines is now required in Bulgaria’s higher education sector. As a result of the strategy, the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) introduced an Access to Information for People with Special Needs elective course in the professional field 3.5. Public Communications and Information Sciences. This paper introduces the contents, the teaching methods and the student assessment mode applied in the course. Special attention is given to teaching methods that enhance student empathy and motivation and increase student involvement in a variety of extra curricular activities such as volunteer missions that address special needs issues and participation in the “Be My Guide” initiative to improve access to electronic information for the blind. The course has been taught since 2012 and has been well received by students. The paper highlights course results and proposes the course as a potential best practice for other institutions interested in meeting the goals of the EU strategy as well as their own national efforts to improve accessibility.

Keywords: people with special needs, higher education, extra curricula activities, best practice, Bulgaria, European Disability Strategy 2010-2020;