The Laboratory covers teaching and research needs in the field of Special Education and Rehabilitation of Individuals with Disabilities and in particular on issues related to Accessibility and Support of Individuals with Disabilities.
In the context of the Laboratory the following Units are organized and operate:
1. Digital Accessibility Unit
This Unit supports a) the design and development of assistive aids which aim at resolving digital accessibility issues, b) the specification of the assistive technology needs related to an individual’s disability, c) the provision of know-how and instructions to assistive technology related topics, d) the study and production of accessible educational material for all types of disabilities at all levels of education, and e) the study and development of accessible haptic and/or multi-sensory/multimodal museum exhibits and works of art.
2. Spatial Accessibility Unit
This Unit supports a) the design and development of assistive aids and accessibility services which aim at resolving issues of (indoors and outdoors) spatial accessibility, b) the development and provision of know-how, specifications and instructions regarding the spatial accessibility, and c) the identification of the needs related to an individual’s disability.
3. Support Unit of Individuals with Disabilities
This Unit concerns a) the support of students with disabilities in school settings, b) the social support of individuals with disabilities, and c) the support of individuals with disabilities in community life.
4. Support Unit for the Education of Schoolchildren with Disabilities with the Use of Technology
This Unit supports a) the guidance and retraining of teachers under the aim of enhancing educational processes using assistive technology, b) the development of know-how to create technology-based individual learning plans, and c) the research on the development of technology applications and related educational programs for students with disabilities and/or special educational needs.
5. Support Unit for the Transition in Adulthood of Individuals with Disabilities
This Unit supports a) the research on the assessment, planning and support of transition in adulthood for individuals with disabilities, b) the workplace inclusion as a necessary condition for the social inclusion of individuals with disabilities, c) the vocational education and training of individuals with disabilities, and d) the research on the development of assessment tools in the field of career counseling and vocational rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities.
6. Support Unit for University Students with Disabilities
This Unit supports university students with disabilities during their studentship at the University through a) the design and development of Assistive-Technology aids, b) the design and development of assistive aids for access to spatial environment, c) the assessment of accessibility guidelines, d) the identification of students’ needs with reference to their impairment, and e) the provision of know-how and instructions to support the studentship of university students with disabilities.