One of the key tasks of higher education institutions in Poland is to create an accessible and inclusive academic environment for students with disabilities. Polish universities increasingly demonstrate that accessibility and equality in education are not only statutory requirements but also real practice. The Law on Higher Education and Science obliges universities to create conditions that ensure the full participation of people with disabilities in education, recruitment, and scientific activities. In practice, this requires the implementation of systemic, organizational, and didactic solutions that enable equal participation in academic life. This obligation is now being fulfilled on many levels, and its effects are visible in everyday university life.
Support for students with disabilities covers many areas. At the organizational level, universities establish dedicated units such as Offices for People with Disabilities. These offices coordinate support activities, provide consultations, organize staff training, and act as intermediaries between students and university administration. Many institutions have also created the position of Rector’s Plenipotentiary for People with Disabilities, which strengthens accessibility policies across universities.
At the didactic level, universities are required to ensure individualization of the learning process. This includes adapting examination and assessment forms, providing educational materials in alternative formats, allowing the use of educational assistants, and introducing assistive technologies. An increasing number of universities also implement digital solutions that enhance accessibility, such as e-learning platforms compliant with WCAG standards, speech recognition systems, and communication-supporting applications.
Infrastructure accessibility is another essential element of support. Universities modernize buildings, equip lecture halls with hearing loops, and provide elevators, ramps, tactile markings, and other facilities that allow for unrestricted movement around campuses and buildings. In this area, universities can use targeted grants provided by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to carry out accessibility-related tasks.
Information accessibility is also important, both during recruitment and throughout the study period. Universities publish information about available support measures on their websites, in promotional and recruitment materials, and through educational and awareness campaigns on social media. In many cases, university websites include English-language sections and functions that facilitate access for individuals with visual or hearing impairments.
Universities also expand their activities through cooperation with non-governmental organizations, public institutions, and employers. Such partnerships ensure that support for students with disabilities extends beyond the university and includes preparation for professional life. Internship and work placement programs organized in cooperation with companies and institutions help students gain experience in environments adapted to their needs. Mentoring programs led by external experts allow the development of soft and professional skills, and joint research projects enable active participation in the world of science and innovation. These initiatives show that universities not only support students in their education but also effectively prepare them for entry into the job market, building connections between education and professional practice.
Reports by the Polish Accreditation Committee from university visits confirm that many institutions implement their own autonomous solutions that significantly extend the scope of activities required by law. For example, SWPS University runs the “Accessible University” project, which includes a comprehensive support model with mentoring, staff training, and digital communication tools. The Jagiellonian University conducts a student assistant program for people with disabilities, and Wrocław University of Science and Technology has implemented an automatic speech recognition system in lecture halls. The University of Gdańsk organizes regular staff training in inclusive communication, while the Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz has established the Association of Students with Disabilities, which works to improve the quality of support for students with special needs.
Universities are increasingly taking steps aimed not only at supporting people with disabilities but also at educating the entire academic community. Workshops for students and staff, social campaigns promoting equality, and integration events help break stereotypes and build awareness of diversity. These initiatives ensure that people with disabilities are not seen through the lens of limitations but as full members of the academic community. As a result, universities become places where everyone feels safe and appreciated, and diversity is recognized as an added value.
Support for students with disabilities in Polish higher education today represents more than just duty. It is an expression of responsibility, empathy, and understanding that education is a right, not a privilege. It is also proof that universities can be places where diversity is valued and accessibility becomes the foundation of the academic community. It must be remembered that support is not a one-time project but a continuous process that requires constant evaluation and adaptation to the changing needs of students.