teaching

Supporting students with special needs

A student with special needs is a student who needs support to achieve learning outcomes through changes in the organisation of the course or in the learning environment.

The need for support may be due to health-related circumstances: a long-term health condition or difficulties associated with a mental or physical condition. However, special needs are not necessarily health-related. For example, talent, an active sporting career or the burden of taking care of a family member, as well as a political or military situation may also require greater flexibility in the context of education.

Guidelines on how to support students with special needs

The University of Tartu Counselling Centre has prepared guidelines offering comprehensive advice on supporting students with special needs. The guidelines are available on the university’s Wiki or intranet. The aim of the guidelines is to provide academic staff with an understanding of various types of special needs and to offer clear recommendations on suitable adaptations, including when and how these should be implemented.

More information about support and services provided to students with special needs can be found on the University of Tartu Counselling Centre´s website.



Adaptations for students with special needs
  • Information and guidelines on how to make adaptations for students with special needs can be found in the brochure put together by the University of Tartu Counselling Centre.
  • For questions regarding the implementation of adaptations and the support of students with special needs, information is available on the university’s intranet. A section of frequently asked questions on this topic can also be found there.


Support services at the University of Tartu:

  • Information about the services offered by the University of Tartu Library for readers with special needs can be found here.
  • Students with hearing impairments can borrow a speech recognition device that can be used to convert speech to text. To borrow the device, a student needs to contact the special needs advisers.
  • Adapted rooms for students with mobility impairments are available in in the student village dormitory at Raatuse 22.

Support services outside the university:

  • Social services, including transport, finding a support person and a personal assistant, etc., are organised by the local government of the person's registered place of residence.
  • Students with hearing impairments who have been identified as having reduced work capability can receive free speech-to-text translation services. More information can be found here.
  • Paid sign language interpretation services can be ordered here.
  • If an assistive device is needed, the student should contact their doctor or the Social Insurance Board.