Disability access scheme

Università IULM is fully committed to providing access schemes for people with disabilities through institutionalised and personalised support services for students with disabilities and specific learning disorders (SLD/ADHD), with the strategic objective of ensuring their equal access to education, reducing barriers to participation, and minimising drop-out rates. These initiatives are embedded in the IULM Disability and Inclusion Policy, which explicitly commits the University to eliminate structural, technological, and social barriers.

1. Admissions and Orientation

• Applicants with disabilities or DSA can formally request compensatory and dispensatory measures for entrance examinations.
• Incoming students are supported through tailored orientation programmes to facilitate their transition into university life, including guidance on course choice, administrative procedures, and use of support services.

2. Academic Support and Tutoring

The DiversaMENTE Office acts as the institutional hub for inclusion services, coordinating:

• Peer tutoring schemes (Master’s students supporting students with disabilities in exam preparation and study strategies).
• Individual mediation with faculty, ensuring inclusive teaching and personalised assessment conditions.
• Training for faculty on how to approach students with disabilities, DSA, and ADHD in teaching and evaluation.
• Courses on study methods and stress management, including specialised seminars such as Concept Mapping Workshops, Stress-free Graduation, and Anxiety Management.
• Accessible digital texts and assistive technologies are provided upon request.

3. Psychological Support

• Dedicated counselling services provide individual and group psychological sessions for students with disabilities.
• Special programmes focus on stress management, self-esteem, and anxiety reduction.

4. International Mobility

• Through Erasmus+ and other mobility schemes, in which IULM participates, students with disabilities are eligible for dedicated funding to cover additional costs such as personal assistance, specialised accommodation, or adapted learning materials.
• Università IULM actively supports and monitors applications to ensure equal participation in international exchanges.

5. Internships and Job Placement

• In collaboration with the Career Service, DiversaMENTE ensures that students with disabilities have access to tailored internships and specific placement opportunities for protected categories, as mandated by Italian law.
• Support is extended to refugees, orphans, and victims of terrorism, broadening the scope of inclusion in the job market.

6. Financial Aid and Scholarships

Università IULM guarantees comprehensive financial measures to reduce economic barriers and support academic persistence:

• “Misure per il sostegno degli studenti universitari con disabilità gravissima” (2025/2026, D.M. MUR n. 455/2025): allocation of assegni di cura to cover costs of qualified personnel assisting students during lessons.
• Borse di Studio “Elsa Pigoli Zucchi”: 3 scholarships (including 1 for university students) for young people with physical disabilities from disadvantaged economic backgrounds.
• Premi di Laurea in memoria di Antonio e Luigi Goi e Angela De Giacomi Goi e Premio in memoria di Alessio Buttarelli: 4 awards (€200–€2,500) for graduates with disabilities.
• Fondazione Macciachini Monti Scholarships (2023/24): 7 annual scholarships of €9,000 for students with sensory/neuromotor disabilities or neurodiversity (DSA, ADHD, Autism).
• Fondazione Villa Mirabello Onlus Scholarships: 8 scholarships (4 × €2,000 and 4 × €1,000) for blind or visually impaired students pursuing higher education or music studies.
• Tuition exemption: students with ≥66% disability are entitled to full exemption from university fees.

7. Accessible Campus and Housing

• The campus is fully barrier-free, with accessible entrances, restrooms, lifts, parking, and reserved spaces in classrooms and libraries.
• All signage across campus is written in braille, ensuring independent navigation for visually impaired students.
• The IULM Residence includes 4 adapted units with internet access, climate control, and accessible bathrooms.
• Mobility orientation courses for blind students are regularly offered to memorise campus routes and facilitate autonomy.

8. Staff with disabilities

Università IULM extends its inclusion policies to employees:

• The IULM employment contract guarantees staff with disabilities the right to part-time and smart-working arrangements.
• Employees with severe disabilities are entitled to paid leave (three days per month or two hours per day).
• Family members caring for a person with severe disability have access to extraordinary paid leave with full social security coverage.
• All staff benefit from a welfare scheme, which can be used to cover medical expenses and other essential needs.

9. Impact and Drop-out Monitoring

Università IULM systematically monitors enrolment, progression, and drop-out rates of students with disabilities and DSA to evaluate the impact of its policies.

Dropout of students with disabilities (1st → 2nd year)

 

Enrollment year	a.a. 2020/21	a.a. 2021/22	a.a. 2022/23	a.a. 2023/24
Dropout between the first and the second year	6	3	1	2
Total of students with disability enrolled in the first year	22	26	22	31
%	27,3%	11,5%	4,5%	6,5%

Dropout of students with SLD (1st → 2nd year)

Enrollment year	a.a. 2020/21	a.a. 2021/22	a.a. 2022/23	a.a. 2023/24
Dropout between the first and the second year	24	17	13	24
Total of students with SLD enrolled in the first year	142	157	121	172
%	16,9%	10,8%	10,7%	14,0%

In 2023/24, 651 students with disabilities, DSA, ADHD, or special educational needs were enrolled, representing 8% of the student population.

These results demonstrate that Università IULM’s structured, personalised, and well-funded services are effective in reducing inequalities, sustaining academic success, and promoting the full inclusion of students with disabilities throughout their university careers.