The project "Assistant for Student with ASD" will be a sustainable support for students on the autism spectrum, enabling them to overcome difficulties in studying. Initially, it will be implemented in selected universities, which will then share their experience with at least one university. Eventually, at least 80 universities will offer specific support to people on the autism spectrum. “The project is a chance that assistance tailored to the individual needs of students on the autism spectrum will become a standard at Polish universities

- said Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak, Deputy Minister of Funds and Regional Policy.

The innovative idea of appointing a person who will assist students with ASD in organising university life was developed at Adam Mickiewicz University (UAM) in Poznań, due to the help of European Funds.

The model of assistance for students with ASD was created as a response to specific problems experienced by people in their local environment - at the university. It has brought about noticeable changes in the lives of students at a relatively low cost of implementation.

A key element is the support provided by assistants of students with ASD. These are people who are trusted and have the right skills to make sure that the support they give is tailored to the needs of the student and the situation they are currently in. An assistant can become not only an employee of the university, but also a student after the 1st semester of study or a graduate of the university. In addition to providing assistance, their task will be to prepare other people for the role of assistant to a student with ASD, including on a voluntary basis.

Support for participants will be provided by a set of ready-made tools to be used by universities, including a scenario of workshops for assistant candidates, as well as two handbooks: one for university employees with practical tips facilitating contact with students with ASD, and another for students with ASD showing how to cope with everyday challenges at the university, including difficulties most frequently indicated by persons with ASD. It will be a permanent practice at the university that every student with ASD, reporting such a need, will receive appropriate assistance.

The project budget is PLN 1.7 million. Activities will be implemented from 1 March 2021 to 30 April 2023.

The model of assistance for students with ASD is a result of the innovation "Social interpreter/advocate - assistant for a person with ASD", developed in the Programme Knowledge Education Development (PO WER) by the Foundation of the Active FURIA in cooperation with the Regional Centre of Social Policy in Poznań, and then tested in practice with participation of students and employees of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.

The introduction of organisational changes and raising awareness and competence of university staff increases the accessibility of the educational offer for people with disabilities. The European Funds under the programme "Knowledge Education Development" are used to implement projects under the competition "Accessible University" to support accessibility of university websites, IT tools, modification of curricula and educational procedures, as well as activities in the field of architectural or ICT accessibility.

The "Accessible University" is part of the Accessibility plus Programme, coordinated by the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy. The aim of the programme is to ensure free access to goods, services and opportunities to participate in social and public life for people with special needs. The focus is on adapting public space, architecture, transport and products to the requirements of all citizens. These are concrete solutions, and the "Accessible University" is an example of this.

In the competitions it is possible to choose one of 2 accessibility development paths - mini or midi. They include different sets of activities depending on the level of accessibility of the university at the moment of applying for support. The maximum amount of money a university can apply for also depends on the selected option. So far, two editions of the competition have already been held (in 2019 and 2020, respectively). In total, as a result of both editions, 121 co-funding agreements were signed for the amount of almost PLN 470 million. In 2021, it is planned to sign another 31 agreements.

Due to very high interest in the competition, its third edition is also planned for another 20 universities, which have not yet benefited from the support for improving accessibility. The allocation in the competition is PLN 60 million, the call is planned to begin in May 2021.