Services for inclusion

The Disability and Dyslexia Services Office was set up in 1999 to promote the full integration of university students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (DSA).

Since then, the DDS Office has evolved while following guidelines set out in the various national and international regulations and the directions of didactic-pedagogical research regarding the inclusion of students with disabilities and with specific learning disorders.

Figures

In 1999, there were 58 students followed by our Office, all of whom were based in Milan, while in 2010 there were 429 students in Milan, Brescia and Piacenza-Cremona. The most recent figures for the 2021/2022 academic year count more than 2000 students distributed across the four campuses (Milan, Brescia, Piacenza-Cremona and Rome).

Since 2009, around 100 Civil Service volunteers have worked with us and trained to ensure university attendance by students with disabilities and with specific learning disorders and to promote inclusive contexts.

Collaboration and networking

The University has been a member of CALD – Coordinamento degli Atenei Lombardi per la disabilità e i DSA - since its inception.

Our Office has developed partnerships with LIUC - Cattaneo University and the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy.

Prof. Luigi d'Alonzo,

Full Professor in Special Education, Faculty of Education, Università Cattolica, Milano Campus.

Rector Delegate fot Inclusion of Students with Disability and Learning Difficulties.

Director of the research center for Disability and Marginality (CeDisMa).

President of the Italian Society of Special Education (SIPeS).

Director of the scientific Journal " Italian Journal of Special Education for Inclusion".

Director of the Master Course in "Didactic and Education for Students with Autisma Spectrum Disorder".

Director of the Master Course in "Didactic and Education for Students with Learnng Difficulties".

Director of the Master Course in "Didactic and Education for Students with Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder".

Director of the Specialised Course for "Support Teacher".

National Coordinator of the Specialised Courses for Support teacher directors.

The DDS’ administrative office is responsible for providing students with the technical-administrative support they need to tackle their university career, working in collaboration with the Student Services Centre and other University offices (Library, Educatt, International, etc.). Depending on where they live, students will find different staff to welcome them either in person or by telephone: the administrative offices of the various campuses are coordinated by a single contact person, Dr. Cappelletti, who works at the Milan campus. See Contacts

Our Offices collaborate with other necessary figures, in addition to consultants and members of the administrative office, to ensure the proper implementation of the specific activities at each location.

The DDS’ administrative office promote various projects and activities to increase the inclusive offer thanks to the funds deriving from a part of the 5 per thousand (5x1000) devolved to Università Cattolica and to the special fund set up by the University. When filling in the forms, all students are asked, on a voluntary basis, to make an additional contribution of € 5.00 to increase the resources of the fund aimed at supporting students with disabilities. The University, in turn, will increase this fund to an extent at least equal to the overall amount obtained through the students' free subscription.

In recent years, just to mention a few interventions, the fund has made it possible to:

• Provide a tactile pathway for blind people to access the Student Services Centre in Milan;
• finance the 'Put yourself in my shoes' initiative at the Milan and Piacenza-Cremona campuses;
• equip the Secretariat of the Disability and Dyslexia Services Office at the Piacenza-Cremona campus and the Student Hub at the Brescia campus with an electric sliding door;
• adapting the equipment to make the spaces in the various sites accessible (lifts and stair lifts).

If desired, and if the appropriate documents are presented, the student is accompanied for teaching/learning mediation and pedagogy consulting throughout his or her academic career by a professional from our team of pedagogists, who are experts not only in the various needs and situations of our students but also in the structure of the Faculties and the various Degree Programmes. (see Special Services)
The consultants working with the Integration Services are doctors in pedagogical and psychological subjects as well as experts in the various topics related to the world of disabilities and specific learning disorders. Through continuous training and supervision, they can guarantee students ever renewed competence in their service.