Support for Students with Special Learning Needs

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The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences aims to provide an open and friendly study environment for all students with special learning needs.  One of our objectives is to create inclusive conditions where students can study and be an integral part of the University community. In order to achieve these objectives, we place primary emphasis on individual student needs, considering the nature of their health condition and their capabilities.

WHO ARE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS?

Students with special learning needs are deemed to be those who have:

a) a disability, such as an impairment of developmental, sensory, physical functions, or other congenital or acquired health impairment;

b) learning, behavioural, emotional, speech or speaking disorders.

Special learning needs shall be supported by the documented proof issued by a specialist.

ACCESSIBILITY OF THE STUDY PROCESS FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS 

According to the Regulation of Studies at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, students may be provided with alternative means of evaluation if disabilities, preventing the regular procedures of evaluation, are present, and alternative means of evaluation ensure the attainment of planned learning outcomes by customizing the learning/teaching setting, form of the teaching aids, font size in the assignments, extending the assignment duration, etc. 

A student wishing to obtain permission for alternative evaluation needs to submit an Electronic request application form for alternative assessment to the Dean’s office of their respective Faculty, along with the necessary documents confirming their special learning needs, within 7 calendar days from the beginning of the academic year. Residents should submit such documents to the Centre for Postgraduate Studies, while doctoral students should submit them to the Research Centre. International students are required to submit not only the documents, but also their translation into English performed by a professional translator, if the documents have been issued in a language other than Lithuanian or English.

Student data and submitted documents are confidential. Applications submitted by students are reviewed by designated staff members at the Dean’s office, who assess the suitability of the documents for assigning an alternative evaluation method to the student. These staff members may invite the student for an interview in order to clarify information or discuss alternative evaluation methods. The final decision regarding the assignment of an alternative evaluation method is made by the Dean of the Faculty. A student with special learning needs shall notify the course teacher about the alternative evaluation methods designated for them at the beginning of the course, but no later than 5 working days before the first evaluation.

Each person’s special learning needs are individual, so in each case, individualized alternative evaluation methods are used. Recommended alternative evaluation methods, tailored to the specific student’s needs, are presented in Annex 1 of the LSMU Procedure for Submitting Documents and Reporting by LSMU Students with Special Learning Needs in Alternative Ways.

The Department for the Affairs of the Disabled under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, in accordance with The procedure for providing financial assistance measures to students with disabilities studying at higher education institutions, provides financial assistance to citizens of the Republic of Lithuania or citizens of other countries and stateless persons who have declared a permanent place of residence in the Republic of Lithuania and are studying at a higher education institution, meeting the following requirements:

  • have a level of work capacity determined in accordance with the procedure established by legislation at 45 per cent or less, or a severe or moderate disability determined while studying at a higher education institution;
  • study for the first time:
  • under a first-cycle (to acquire a Professional Bachelor’s or Bachelor’s degree) study programme or an integrated study programme;
  • under a second-cycle (Master’s) study programme;
  • under a vocational study programme;
  • under a third-cycle (doctoral) study programme;
  • under a short-term study programme.

The following financial assistance measures are available:

  • allowances to meet special needs: monthly allowance amount (50% of the basic social insurance pension) from 1 January 2023 – €123.11 per month;
  • partial reimbursement of study expenses: allowance amount 3.2 times the basic social benefit from 1 January 2023 – €156.80 per semester.

Students with disabilities seeking financial assistance shall submit an application for financial assistance and a copy of the disability certificate to the LSMU Student Affairs Office within 10 working days from the beginning of each semester. After the expiration of the disability certificate, a copy of the extended certificate should be submitted as soon as possible (More information).

For detailed information, please contact Vitalija Skipskienė, the administrator of the Student Affairs Office at vitalija.skipskiene@lsmu.lt

The State Study Foundation provides a monthly earmarked allowance for students with disabilities. The amount of the earmarked allowance is €196 per month from 1 January 2023, which is 4 times the basic social benefit (BSI).

Students with disabilities studying at higher education institutions and their branches of foreign higher education institutions operating in Lithuania, who meet the following conditions, are eligible for the earmarked allowances:

  • have a level of work capacity determined in accordance with the procedure established by legislation at 45 per cent or less (or a severe or moderate disability);
  • First-time students studying at a higher education institution after the determination of disability: under a first-cycle (Bachelor’s) study programme or an integrated study programme; under a second-cycle (Master’s) study programme; under a non-degree study programme; under a third-cycle (doctoral) study programme.

Students with disabilities studying at the university who wish to receive the earmarked allowance shall submit their applications electronically For more information please visit the website of the State Study Foundation: by selecting “Electronic Services” and clicking on “Earmarked Allowance” (Tikslinė išmoka). The student logs into the Scholarship and Financial Aid Information System (IS “Parama”) of the State Study Foundation, using the login credentials of their respective e-banking services. When completing the “Earmarked Allowance” (Tikslinė išmoka) form, indicate the period for which the allowance is requested (e.g. “Earmarked Allowance. Spring Semester 2023”).

The application submission period in the spring semester during the main admission process is from 1 February to 16 March, and in the autumn semester during the main admission process, i.e. from 1 September to 16 October.

After the main admission process, additional admissions take place in the spring semester from 1 April to 31 August of the current year, and in the autumn semester from 1 November to 31 January of the following year. During the additional admissions period, students wishing to receive the earmarked allowance shall submit their applications every month from the 1st to the 16th of the respective month.

The payment of the earmarked allowance is suspended in the following cases:

  • if there is a change in the student’s work capacity (a higher work capacity level is determined, exceeding 45 per cent);
  • if the student incurs academic debts or penalties in accordance with university regulations.

The payment of the earmarked allowance is terminated in the following cases:

  • if the student completes their studies before the initially anticipated date of completion of the studies;
  • if the student’s studies are terminated in accordance with the regulations of the higher education institution;
  • if the student is expelled from the higher education institution;
  • when the student takes an academic leave or suspends their studies;
  • in the event of the student’s death.

For detailed information, please contact Vitalija Skipskienė, the administrator of the Student Affairs Office at vitalija.skipskiene@lsmu.lt

A monthly allowance of €260, which is 6.5 times the basic social benefit (BSI), is provided. Applications are submitted online twice a year: from 15 September to 10 October for the autumn semester and from 20 January to 20 February for the spring semester. For more information please visit For more information please visit the website of the State Study Foundation:.

For more information please contact senior specialist at the Study Centre, Assoc. Prof. Jurgita Dailidavičienė, jurgita.dailidaviciene@lsmu.lt

LSMU students with special needs participating in Erasmus+ mobility activities are eligible for additional financial support. The support may be granted for the following purposes:

  • additional expenses for the aids and/or services, depending on the nature of the illness and/or disability. The need for these expenses shall be substantiated by medical records, i.e., the need for the aids and/or services for which additional support is requested shall be confirmed by an extract from medical documents issued by a doctor;
  • accompanying person’s subsistence and travel expenses, if these expenses are reasonable. For more information please seehere. For more information please contact the following persons:

Erasmus+ studies: Eglė Vizbaraitė, egle.vizbaraite@lsmu.lt
Erasmus+ traineeship
: Brigita Vinikaitytė, brigita.vinikaityte@lsmu.lt

ACCESSIBILITY OF BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Every year, the accessibility of the university’s areas and premises has been improving for people with disabilities. Majority of buildings at LSMU are suitable for use by individuals with disabilities. New buildings are constructed following the principles of universal design, and renovated buildings are adapted for individuals with disabilities by installing elevators, ramps, handrails, emergency call systems, etc. In 2014–2020, LSMU utilized the project funds under the EU Structural Funds Investment Program not only to ensure the accessibility of education for students with special needs but also to improve the study conditions and quality for students with disabilities. Equipment and furniture are purchased to equip specialized workstations for students with disabilities, and the infrastructure is adapted accordingly. The LSMU library has acquired the Bellman Audio Domino Pro system for individuals with hearing impairment. Software such as JAWS 14 for Windows and the WinTalkerVoice1.6 has been acquired. JAWS 14 for Windows analyses information on the screen and transfers it to a speech synthesizer that converts the text into sound. The Veterinary Academy library has also been adapted to improve its accessibility and equipped with specialized equipment for students with special needs, including specialized tables, a video magnifier (Freedom Scientific Topaz XL HD), audio equipment (Freedom Scientific SARA CE) that analyses the on-screen information and transmits it to the speech synthesizer that converts the text into sound in Lithuanian and English, and a Braille display (Humanware Brailliant) with VoiceOver function that translates on-screen information into sound. Increasingly more dormitories are being adapted for students with mobility and other disabilities, providing them with the opportunity to reside in rooms specifically designed for their needs.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSITANCE

The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences provides access to free-of-charge psychological assistance available to the students:

● individual psychological consultations;
● psychological support groups;
● training or preventive events instructed by psychologists.

In view of the announcement of quarantine in Lithuania and in order to ensure maximum security, consultations are carried out remotely. You are welcome to register for individual consultations online by choosing the convenient time for you.

COORDINATION COMMITTEE FOR DISABILITY AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS OF EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS AT THE LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Chairperson of the Committee: Assoc. Prof. Lina Danusevičienė, Department of Bioethics, Faculty of Public Health

Secretary of the Committee: Assoc. Prof. Jurgita Dailidavičienė, Senior Specialist at the Study Centre, Vice-Dean at the Faculty of Animal Science

Members:

  • Dr. Renata Kudukytė-Gasperė, Vice-Dean at the Faculty of Public Health (acting chairperson of the Committee)
  • Assoc. Prof. Laura Malakauskienė, Head of the Student Affairs Office, Dean of the Student Affairs
  • Prof. Albina Aniulienė, Professor at the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  • Prof. Ingrida Balnytė, Vice-Dean at the Faculty of Medicine
  • Prof. Arūnas Vasiliauskas, Professor at the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Odontology
  • Dr. Sigitas Mingaila, Lecturer at the Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Nursing
  • Rima Šedbarė, Junior Assistant at the Department of Analytical and Toxicological Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy
  • Dr. Jevgenij Razgulin, Project Manager at the Division of Foreign Studies, International Relations and Study Centre
  • Dr. Eglė Misiūnaitė-Bačiauskienė, Project Manager at the Division of Innovative Education, Study Centre
  • Vitalija Skipskienė, administrator at the Student Affairs Office
  • Lina Keršytė, Head of the Human Resources Department
  • Rūta Veličkienė, Head of the Staff Health and Safety Department
  • Viktorija Bučinskaitė, Coordinator of Equal Opportunities
  • Beatričė Ramanauskaitė, representative of the Student Union
  • Simona Kleivaitė, representative of the Student Union