Goal 10 / 10.6 / 10.6.10
Does your university have a reasonable accommodation policy for disabilities?
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
https://www.ahlia.edu.bh/cms4/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Student-Handbook_Nov2020_WEB.pdf
Ahlia University welcomes students with special needs to any of the programmes offered. Admission of students with special needs is considered by a special needs admission committee which assesses the potential of the candidates to succeed in their chosen academic programme.
Students with special needs are given all necessary support and guidance by Ahlia University faculty and staff. Further, a special needs committee has been created to specifically look after the welfare of the students with special needs. Students with special needs can refer to the Directorate of Student Guidance and Counselling for additional support and guidance.
Tuition Discounts
https://www.ahlia.edu.bh/ahlia2020/
’ Orphans and people with special needs: 50%
’ High school graduates 95% or more: 50%
’ High school graduates 90% or above: 25%
’ High school graduates 80% or more: 20%
Financial Aid for Undergraduate Degree Applicants with Special Needs
https://www.ahlia.edu.bh/student-handbook/
As part of Ahlia University's community engagement, the university offers 50% tuition fees discount for all applicants with special needs/disability provided that they have a special need/disability card from the Bahraini Ministry of Labor and Social Development. Ahlia University aims to provide the appropriate care and learning environment for these applicants in order to qualify them to integrate into society and the business market.
Ahlia University has the next funding strategies for persons with disabilities
https://www.ahlia.edu.bh/cms4/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Student-Handbook-MAR19-RFW.pdf
’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
- Students who have been acknowledged as disabled (students with special needs) by the Ministry of Social Development and issued a ’disability card’ certifying their need are given a 50% discount in fee by Ahlia University.
- ’Students with special needs/disabilities might receive a full scholarship by the Ministry of Education.
- Students are also allowed to installment payment options for pending and remnant fees.
Ahlia University has financing strategies for people with disabilities which are recognized by the Ministry of Social Development and have their "disability card" they receive a 50% discount on the Ahlia University fee, they can receive installment payment options of pension and remaining fees, or full scholarship from the Ministry of Education.
Regarding strategies for people with disabilities, the kingdom has developed "the national strategy for people with disabilities" which focuses on improving the promotion and protection of the human rights of people with disabilities.
The strategy provided by the kingdom includes government sectors, NGOs, the private sector, professional groups, educators, advocates and society in general; providing guidance to move forward in a way that ensures the inclusion of people with disabilities, with a focus on human rights. In accordance with this, various laws and resolutions have been issued that ensure the government's commitment to support these people.
Ahlia University offers a limited number of scholarships each year for undergraduate studies to outstanding students, who have no other means to finance their studies these scholarships allow applicants regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, physical or learning disability. Scholarships are awarded with a 50% grant: 50% loan through a competitive application process. The university prioritizes applicants with the most opportunities for success based on aptitude, academic achievement, and motivation. ’Funding scholarships can also be accessed by applicants with disabilities in which case they must demonstrate eligibility according to their opportunity for completion of studies either undergraduate or graduate, the applicant must submit medical documents attesting to their disability.
People with Disabilities
https://www.bahrain.bh/new/en/govsocialsupport-disabilities_en.html
Bahrain pays considerable attention to people with special needs, preserving their rights as equal members of society. The Kingdom values the role they play as contributors to society and in supporting SDG efforts.
Bahrain’s constitution guarantees the rights, enacting laws to protect and support them.
National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities
The Kingdom’s National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities includes guidelines and plans covering the government sector, civil society institutions, companies, private institutions, the teaching and legal professions, and society as a whole.
The strategy obligates civil society to adopt practices that guarantee the dignified and respectful treatment of people with disabilities, ensuring that they remain an essential part of society. The state protects their human rights by removing barriers to equality and eliminating all forms of discrimination.
Legislation Related to People with Disabilities
A Higher Committee for Persons with Disabilities was formed in accordance with the Law on Persons with Disabilities in Bahrain. It is headed by the Minister of Labour and Social Development, with the membership of senior officials from the Government, civil society, and the private sector. Several laws and official decisions have been issued, which reaffirm the government's commitment.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Development is the government entity responsible for matters related to people with disabilities. It coordinates with the public and private sectors to facilitate access to services such as social allowances, transportation, including public transport, public utilities, health care, education, rehabilitation, career development, sports, and more.
Most Government entities and civil society institutions offer people with disabilities special care, providing them with social support, healthcare, and cultural activities, in addition to training and rehabilitation, and helping them to become more integrated into society and the labour market.
Government and Private Sector Initiatives for People with Disabilities
- The Government has implemented several initiatives, in coordination with private agencies, to support people with disabilities, including, but not limited to:
- A Ministry of Interior initiative to launch a visual service for people with disabilities as part of its emergency services, and equipping it with features, such as sign language
- A Ministry of Education initiative to integrate students with disabilities into public schools
- Equipping public parks, ministries, commercial centres, airports, hotels, and mosques to accommodate persons with disabilities
- Ministries, banks, and commercial centres’ assistance with daily transactions, including the provision of wheelchairs at all the Kingdom’s service centres
- An initiative to support people with disabilities in sports under the patronage of the Bahrain Olympic Committee and the Bahrain Sports Federation for Disabilities
- A Supreme Council for Youth and Sports initiative to support and integrate people with disabilities into activities and sports such as equestrianism, horse racing, football, and others
Benefits Offered by the Kingdom of Bahrain to Citizens with Disabilities
- Free care, rehabilitation, treatment, and education
- Permanent and temporary residential care and daycare
- Financial support
- Academic and professional qualifications
- Prosthetic devices and hearing aids according to specified requirements and regulations
- Special privileges to holders of ID cards issued for people with disabilities
- Free driving lessons
- Two hours of rest for employees with disabilities or for those who take care of persons with disabilities.
- Assessment and diagnosis, issuance of approved medical reports, and individual treatment plans
- Physical, occupational, speech, and language therapy
- Quality services for holders of the new national ID
Special Discounts on Tuition Fees to Beneficiaries of Associations and People with Special Needs
https://twitter.com/AsharqiaBer/status/1695696753318633737
His Excellency the Secretary General #بر_الشرقية visited the introductory platform of the Bahraini National University in Dhahran, to participate in the launch of its social initiative by offering special discounts on tuition fees to beneficiaries of associations and people with special needs at the bachelor's and master's levels, and to discuss ways of cooperation and strengthening relations between the two parties.
@ahliauniversity
Ahlia University Signs an MoU with the Bahraini Association for Parents of the Disabled
The President of Ahlia University, Professor Mansour Al-Aali, noted that disabled people receive special care and attention the academic and administrative bodies of the university. They also receive partial scholarships of 50% of the tuition fees, which is what made Ahlia university the most attractive among universities to this segment of society.
prof. Al-Aali praised the campaign launched by the Bahraini Association for Parents of the Disabled, which included collecting and recycling of plastics to benefit from its revenue in providing special chairs for the disabled.
For his part, the President of the Bahraini Association for Parents and Friends of the Disabled affirmed his pride in the prestigious status of Ahlia University and the role played by the university in supporting and assisting the disabled and their families, noting the successes achieved by the university in graduating dozens of students with disabilities in the past years, expressing the association’s desire for more cooperation with the university.
Ahlia University signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bahraini Association for Parents and Friends of the Disabled, with the aim of achieving fruitful cooperation between them on the basis of mutual benefit and common interests, in accordance with the laws and regulations in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Ahlia University was represented by the President of the University, Professor Mansour Al-Aali, and the Bahraini Society for Parents and Friends of the Disabled was represented by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Jassim Muhammad Siyadi.
This agreement comes within the framework of both parties’ desire to activate the role of cooperation between them, and bilateral cooperation in the field of supporting students with disabilities, that is through exchanging invitations to participate and attend events held by the two parties, and the university provided support for the activities of the Bahraini Association for Parents of the Disabled and their friends by collecting plastic materials in all University facilities and presenting them to the association for recycling in order to contribute to the purchase of the largest possible number of wheelchairs for specific cases of people with disabilities, in addition to organizing joint activities aimed at enhancing the opportunities of enabling students with disabilities from completing their university education.
Ice Cream Social
https://www.ahlia.edu.bh/events/ice-cream-social/
The College of Business and finance cordially invites you to the ’Ice Cream Social’ on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at 3:30 PM in the gosi parking area. to express our gratitude for being a part of Ahlia University’s Success in collecting two tons of plastic for the benefit of people with disability.
The event serves as a perfect opportunity for us to express our heartfelt gratitude for your invaluable contribution to Ahlia University’s Success! Your dedication and support in collecting an astounding two tons of plastic for the benefit of people with disabilities have left a lasting impact on our community.
Looking forward to seeing you all there.
Policy for Admitting and Supporting Students with Special Needs
Privileges/Benefits Accruing to Admitted students with special needs:
A. Facilities:
’ Car Park: AU will provide special car parking slots for disabled students and
students with special needs
’ Bathrooms: AU will provide suitable bathrooms for disabled students and
students with special needs.
’ Entrances: AU will provide suitable ramps on entrances as well as railings and
elevator services (where appropriate) for disabled students and students with
special needs.
’ Classrooms: Where needed, especially designed seating facilities in classrooms
and labs will be provided.
B. Support for Learning:
A. In reference to Classes and Labs:
’ Educating AU Staff & Faculty Members: AU faculty and staff will be made aware of respective students’ special need, while further educating them on the nature of the disability and required accommodations.
’ Support in classrooms and labs: AU will respond adequately to the kind of impairment that the disabled or special needs student has. The impairments could be physical (like visual impairment or hearing impairment) or medical like certain disorders (autism or epilepsy or other).
’ Assistive Devices: AU will allow students with special needs to use assistive devices in classrooms and labs and, where possible, will provide some supportive or adaptive devices that will help them learn better.
’ Online learning environment: all instructors are made aware of the student’s specific need, encouraging them to tailor online dissemination of information, conducive to student specific need (limitations). The university strives to adopt best practice and solutions in this regard.
C. In reference to Examinations:
’ Location and Duration of Exam: where needed, the students with special needs will be provided with a separate examination hall in a suitable environment to write the exam. For the remaining students with special needs, extra time will be provided if needed (as per student case) to complete their exams.
’ At all times, discretion in dealing with disabled students ought to be observed; an example would be if there is tardiness on arrival or difficulty in reaching the exam room.
’ Where needed, AU will provide necessary support for the disabled student to complete the exam and this support could be, for example, in the form of notetaking (or other).
D. Activities
AU will support, guide, and encourage students with special needs to participate in general student activities inside the University and outside. AU will also encourage students to participate in local, regional, and international events that are designed to celebrate the achievements of special needs students.
’
5. Privileges/Benefits Accruing to Admitted ’Students with Chronic ailments*.’
A. In reference to Classes and Labs:
’ Educating AU Staff & Faculty Members: AU faculty and staff will be made aware of respective students’ special need, while further educating them on the nature of the disability and required accommodations.
B. In reference to Examinations:
’ Depending on the type of chronic ailment, instructors will have the liberty to offer them additional time (suitable as per student case) to complete their final examination.
UC Approved Paper No.: UC/P 498/2021 Policy for Admitting and Supporting Page 5 of 5 Students with Special Needs
6. Student satisfaction
Each semester student’s will be surveyed on the services and support offered, via ADREG.
This will help us assess the utility of our services and make recommended changes
Special Attention to people with special needs
Special Attention to people with special needs
To ensure sustainable development, equality between all citizens and ’leaving no one behind’, the Kingdom of Bahrain has always paid great attention to all vulnerable groups within the community and especially the people with disability and special needs as these groups are an integrated part of the community and its overall development.
The people with disability and special needs are supported and a core focus in the community by law and many entities play key role this field such as Ministry of Labour & Social Development , Ministry of Education , Ministry of Interior, Information & eGovernment Authority , Ministry of Health , Ministry of Information Affairs , Ministry of Works , Electricity and Water Authority , Ministry of Industry , and many related NGO's that provides numerous facilities through social support, healthcare and training skills to be integrated into society and the business market.
Care and Rehabilitation
The Ministry of Labour & and Social Development is the primary care giver to the vulnerable groups including people with disability and special needs. They provide them with the welfare offering and many services to support their employment, training, education, guidance consultations, conducting specialised researches, psychiatric diagnosis, physical, functional therapy and financial disbursement for their caregivers as disability allowance. The ministry has dedicated a special hotline facilitated with video call and sign-language for on-spot support. There are more than 9 centres throughout Bahrain dedicated to people with special needs, in addition to online services to benefit from and with the support of the hot-line facility.
Integration in Education
The Ministry of Education has taken serious steps to maintain equality and harmony among the community. MOE has initiated to integrate the people with disability and special needs in public schools with giving special focus on preparing the appropriate environment in term of awareness, facilities and special training in dealing and interacting with disabled people.
The Schools accept special needs cases without discrimination and integrat them with other students. There are around 175 schools that have implemented the special education programme in different levels of education set by the Ministry.
Examples of the schools have implemented the Special Education programme based on disability type such as:
’ The list of intellectual disabilities Schools .
’ The list of hearing disabilities schools
’ The list of visual disability schools
’ The list of physical disability schools
’ The list of schools contains students with autism spectrum disorder
’ Rehabilitation centres affiliated to the Ministry of Education
Bahrain Ministry of education
https://www.moe.gov.bh/?lan=en
Department of Special Education at Ministry of Education
http://www.moedu.gov.bh/SpecialEdu/?lang=ar
Equity and diversity policy of Ahlia University
As a higher educational institution Ahlia University is committed to maintain equity amongst its diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The University ensures that all members of the university community are treated equitably and with respect ın accordance with the following definitions:
Diversity: Appreciation and acknowledgement of differences amongst the members of the university community that promote acceptance and belonging, regardless of factors that span age, color, disability, employment status, ethnic or national origins, language, family status, marital status, race, religious or spiritual belief, gender, socio-economic circumstances and taste.
Equity: A standard of treatment of people that involves reasonable efforts to ensure fairness in decisions impacting all members of the university community. However, equitable treatment does not necessarily mean equal treatment as a range of interests impacting all parties need be balanced.
I. Equity and diversity among the student body is as follows:
Ahlia University believes that all students, regardless of color, race, religion, and physical or learning disability, have the right to the best education. Admission to Ahlia University is selective based on prior academic achievement. The most qualified candidates -- regardless of race, color, gender, religion, nationality, sect or disability -- will be selected to fill the available places. In the course of student participation in the educational life at the university, academic and non-academic, Ahlia University is committed to a discrimination-free learnıng environment for all students -- regardless of race, color, gender, religion, nationality, sect or disability. based on principles of fairness and equity.
II. Equity and diversity among staff is as follows:
Ahlia strives to treat its staff fairly by maintaining a healthy, safe and productive work environment which is free from discrimination based on any other factor that is unrelated to Ahlia legitimate interests. Ahlia shall not tolerate any offensive, intimidating or inappropriate statements or behavior undermining equity ın the work environment. Harassment in all its manifestations is prohibited. Committed to applying an effective recruitment policy that is based on the principles of equity and fairness, and equal employment opportunity, Ahlia shall ensure to identify, efficiently and effectively, the right candidates for vacancies in Ahlia and recruitment shall be based on qualifications, experience, and merit. Supervisors and managers are expected to ensure that work-related decisions regarding task allocation, compensation, performance evaluations, the administration of Ahlia benefits et. al. reflect principles of fairness and equity.
The University mandates that members of the University community pay heed to applicable codes of conduct as well as to the University’s Anti-Harassment Policy.
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