Accessibility in Studies

In case you need individual study arrangements, please proceed as follows:

1. Join one of the following open reception events (KK238, Linnanmaa campus):
   • 14.11.2024 at 14-15
   • 12.12.2024 at 14-15
   • 16.1.2025 at 9.00-10.00
2. Prior to the open reception event, take a printed copy of the documentation that verifies your need for individual study arrangements (e.g. a report issued by a doctor, psychologist or special education teacher). Take the copy with you; it will be securely archived in paper format only.
3. You will meet with a Guidance Services specialist to see what kind of individual study arrangements you might need and benefit from. You will be given a written recommendation for the arrangements. The recommendation is valid for five years, during your studies at the University of Oulu.
4. To receive individual study arrangements for a course, you need to show the recommendation to the course teacher and agree on the arrangements. Contact the teacher upon registering for the course, so as to allow them time to plan the arrangements. If you wish to email the recommendation to the teacher instead of showing it to them in person, make sure you use secure email.
5. In case of any problems, contact the Guidance Services specialist that issued the recommendation.

• Individual study arrangements are granted to the student only when the student verifies his/her/they need by presenting a certificate for individual study arrangements, which is valid in the whole University of Oulu.
• The right to individual study arrangements is granted by the guidance services specialist. The student must verify need for individual study arrangements by presenting a statement by a doctor or other relevant professional. The right to individual study arrangements is granted for five years.
• The recommendation on individual study arrangements specifies the arrangements agreed upon but includes no data concerning health as defined in the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Details of the student’s health status are disclosed only to the person in charge of granting the right to individual study arrangements. The contact details of the person in charge will be included in the certificate.
• The student must communicate need for individual study arrangements to the course teacher as soon as possible. When a student needs support during a course, he/she/they shows the recommendation to the teacher face-to-face or e.g. via video call. If this is not possible, the student can send the recommendation using the university's secure email ("registered letter"). The recipient may not save the recommendation anywhere. Security email is automatically destroyed after 30 days.

Tips:

• Separate exam room for students who need individual arrangements (instructions of how to use the electronic examination system).
• Apuri – guidance support forum
• Services and devices which you can use in your teaching, including remote and hybrid events.
• Alternative assessments methods
• The Back to Studies cards are free to use. The cards have been designed so that you can quickly glance at them to see what to consider in guidance and teaching situations. Their purpose is to help understand the different needs of students and to provide tools for addressing those needs.

Dyslexia

• Additional time to do written coursework.
• Additional time during exams (about 30min to 1hour).
• Students may also be helped by having the chance to take their exam by computer and use a proofreading program when writing.
• Flexible procedures and alternative test-taking methods. Alternatives to traditional tests include: oral exams, student presentations, project work and multi-modal computer-based home exams that may include e.g. examples from different types of materials or the use of different programs or videos.
• Provide students with lecture slides well in advance of the lectures.
• Provide a form of assessment in which spelling mistakes do not lower the grade.
• If you have a print-disability and need accessible media, you can contact Oulu University Library to register for Celia’s services. Most books provided by Celia are in Finnish, but books in English are also available. Various aids are available for reading many higher education books. This page includes examples of aids and tips for using them.
• Extended loan period for course books. The extended loan period can only be obtained by borrowing from the counter and showing the individual study arrangements form. The extension applies only to the first loan, not to renewals.
• Be aware that students may need a chance to make audio and/or visual recordings for their studying needs. Students have the right to make such recordings for their own use, but not to publish them without permission. A practice for making such recordings should be arranged, however, between the teacher and the student.

Attention deficit and hyperactivity & autism spectrum disorder

• Additional time to do written coursework.
• Additional time during exams (about 30min to 1hour).
• Learning may be demonstrated in alternative ways. e.g. a written examination may be replaced by a verbal one or by written work done at home.
• Separate room for exam (instructions of how to use the electronic examination system).
• Clear and detailed information on the structure of a course, key dates, examination requirements and practical arrangements.
• Obtaining lecture materials in advance.

Anxiety & social anxiety

• Rather than have students discuss in small groups, use pair discussions followed up by a joint wrap-up discussion for the whole class.
• Don’t force a student experiencing performance anxiety to speak in front of the group, e.g. by putting questions to them directly in front of others. Instead, let the students think about their answer in peace and let them choose themselves if they wish to share their answer with the rest of the group.
• For example, performing in a smaller group, bilaterally to the teacher or videotaping performance.
• The student may need additional time to turn in assignments. The need for additional time might also emerge during the course, if his or her condition fluctuates during the course.

Depression

• Clear and detailed information on the structure of a course, key dates, examination requirements and practical arrangements.
• The student may need additional time to turn in assignments. The need for additional time might also emerge during the course, if his or her condition fluctuates during the course.

• Non-Discrimination Act (in Finnish)
• The University of Oulu equality and diversity plan
• Studyinfo.fi - accessibility and learning support

• The Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities
• Kynnys: The Threshold Association

• The Finnish Central Association for Mental Health

• Finnish Fed­er­a­tion of the Visually Impaired