Positive, helpful attitudes, an inclusive environment and barrier-free buildings, Halls of Residence and sports facilities are available for people with disabilities who choose Széchenyi István University. In order to bring the everyday problems of students with disabilities closer to university staff and students, a barrier-free day was held on the Győr campus.

Bringing people with disabilities and able-bodied people closer together, Széchenyi István University and the National Conference of Student Unions’ Mentoring Programme organised a barrier-free day. A wheelchair obstacle course was built, a blind walk, signage and interactive sessions were held at the student-initiated sensitisation programme.

Photos: Csaba József Májer

As Gertrúd Pécsi, the Equal Opportunities Coordinator of Széchenyi István University reminded, this is not the first time that such an event has taken place at the institution. "I think it is important to regularly provide an opportunity for university staff and students to gain insight into the lives of students who have to cope with some kind of difficulty every day, but who nevertheless have the perseverance to pursue their higher education. If they are accepted, understood and given a little help, they can all live their university life together more smoothly," she stressed.

Pécsi believes that at Széchenyi István University it is of utmost importance that the institution is also accessible to students with disabilities. A good example is the multifunctional Hall of Residence, where disabled and visually impaired students currently live in barrier-free rooms. The other buildings of the University, the library and the sports hall are also suitable for use by disabled people.

Photos: Csaba József Májer

"I'm glad that today's university-age generation is more accepting and natural towards people with disabilities. The feedback is that the lecturers - also thanks to the  equal opportunities coordinators in the Faculties - are becoming more and more aware of the opportunities available to students with special needs" - Pécsi said, emphasising the positive aspects.

As an illustrative background, supporting all of this, she added that Dr Emese Makó, Head of the Department of Transport Infrastructure and Water Resources Engineering, had invited her for the umpteenth time to her class on Accessible Transport, where future engineering graduates can visualize in an experiential way some important details related to accessibility which need to be taken into consideration in their future design tasks. It was during this session that Rodrigó Maráczi, the North West Hungary Regional Coordinator of the Students’ Union Mentoring Programme, raised the need to organise a new accessibility programme on campus.

Rodrigó Maráczi on the wheelchair obstacle course. (Photo by Csaba József Májer)

Rodrigó Maráczi, a transport engineering student, has been involved with people with reduced mobility since he was in secondary school, either through work or volunteering. Within the Students’ Union Mentoring Programme, he feels it is his responsibility to help the integration of disadvantaged people. "I wanted our mentors to become more aware of the challenges faced by people with disabilities so that, if the need arises, they can help more easily and effectively in the future," he said, explaining why he felt it was important to organise the event.

According to Gábor Gönczi, Széchenyi is a good place to learn. (Photo: Csaba József Májer)

Gábor Gönczi, disabled since birth, is finishing his seventh semester at Széchenyi István University, on the Masters programme in Business Informatics. He also took part in the barrier-free day. He said that he chose Széchenyi because the Győr multifunctional Hall of Residence offers the most ideal accommodation for him/her among the Halls of Residence available in the country, due to its multifunctional facilities and its characteristics and because of the infrastructure of the institution, which allows him to get anywhere without physical barriers. "My fellow students and teachers are positive, kind and very helpful. They know how to make things easier for me in a given situation, almost without words," said the student from Tata.

Partner organisations participating in the programme:

Győr-Moson-Sopron County Branch of the National Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SINOSZ); Győr-Moson-Sopron County Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired; Hungarian Maltese Relief Service; Family, Opportunity and Volunteer House; Social Policy Innovation Nonprofit Ltd.; Győr Camelot Association of Disabled Youth.