Accessibility Map for European Universities
Author: Erasmus Student Network (ESN)
Published: 4 Sep 2014 - Updated: 11 Jun 2016
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Related Publications
Synopsis: MapAbility is an online map designed to inform students with disabilities about accessibility levels of European Higher Education Institutions.
Introduction
On the 28th of August, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) celebrated the launch of MapAbility platform, a ground-breaking online map designed to inform students with disabilities about the accessibility level of European Higher Education Institutions.
Main Content
AHEAD supported ESN in delivering this project. MapAbility's primary aim is to conduct extensive research into the accessibility level of Higher Education Institutions in Europe.
With this new online map, ESN is using MapAbility data to provide students with disabilities with an exclusive guide to accessibility in European Universities.
A committed team of students from across Europe founded the project, which maps out the entire Higher Education Area.
The group - who are all the volunteers of ESN - created a questionnaire to investigate the accessibility level of Higher Education buildings and to gather information about the services HEIs can offer students with disabilities.
Preliminary MapAbility research reveals mixed results for accessibility in European HEIs: although a third of institutions have no Disability unit to welcome students with disabilities, over two thirds of HEIs have essential facilities such as elevators and accessible bathrooms.
The project also hopes to promote common understanding of the diverse range of accessibility needs in Europe.
The goal would be to increase the facilities available for students with disabilities and to improve the perception of different forms of disability in European HEIs.
MapAbility is a sub-project of ExchangeAbility, an ESN program with the wider aim of increasing the participation of students with disabilities in international mobility programs.