10.6.9 Disability access scheme
Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) has access schemes for people with disabilities that provide targeted support, reasonable accommodation, assistive technology and mentoring, so that students with disabilities can access and succeed in higher education on an equal basis. The schemes are delivered by the Disability Support Services (DSS) Center (SWU DSS Center), Division of Student Affairs, located on the 1st floor of the Office of the President Building, Prasarnmit Campus, and continue to operate in 2025 (B.E. 2568). They are underpinned by the university regulation on educational provision and support for students with disabilities (B.E. 2561/2018).
1. Loan of assistive and learning equipment
Students with disabilities can borrow learning equipment from the DSS Center according to their individual needs, including notebook computers, voice recorders, text magnifiers, Braille printers, Braille note-takers, electric wheelchairs and drafting tables. The Center also provides printing, photocopying, scanning of textbooks and course materials, and report binding.
Figure 1. Equipment and document-conversion service area at the SWU DSS Center (computer, scanner, printer and binding equipment).
Source: SWU DSS Center, Division of Student Affairs – https://studentaffairs.op.swu.ac.th/dsscenter
2. Assistive technology
The DSS Center provides assistive software for students with visual impairments, including the JAWS screen reader, Duxbury Braille translation software and ZoomText screen magnification software, which students can use at the Center to access digital learning materials independently.
Figure 2. A student using a computer with assistive technology at the SWU DSS Center.
Source: SWU DSS Center, Division of Student Affairs – https://studentaffairs.op.swu.ac.th/dsscenter
Figure 3. JAWS screen-reading software provided by the SWU DSS Center.
Source: SWU DSS Center, Division of Student Affairs – https://studentaffairs.op.swu.ac.th/dsscenter
3. Reasonable accommodation in teaching, learning and examinations
The DSS Center provides academic support and accommodation in teaching and learning, such as reading examination papers for students with visual impairments and coordinating with lecturers to adjust teaching and learning arrangements to each student’s needs. DSS Center staff also support students with visual impairments, for example in the use of a white cane.
Figure 4. DSS Center staff supporting students with visual impairments in the use of a white cane at the SWU DSS Center.
Source: SWU DSS Center, Division of Student Affairs – https://studentaffairs.op.swu.ac.th/dsscenter
4. Mentoring and peer support: the BUDDY system
Through the BUDDY system, the DSS Center recruits and matches student buddies to assist students with disabilities. This peer-mentoring scheme provides targeted, student-to-student support for people with disabilities at the university.
5. Financial support and pathways to employment
• Educational subsidies: undergraduate students with disabilities receive educational subsidies from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), coordinated by the DSS Center.
• Employment support: the DSS Center promotes work opportunities for students with disabilities during their studies and prepares students and graduates with disabilities for sustainable employment through work experience with organisations and employers.
Supporting regulations
Regulation on educational provision for persons with disabilities and educational support for students with disabilities, B.E. 2561 (2018): http://studentaffairs.op.swu.ac.th/Educationalmanagementfordisabledstudents
Announcement on the policy, criteria and procedures for admitting students with disabilities: http://studentaffairs.op.swu.ac.th/Recruitmentofdisabledstudents
Summary
SWU’s access schemes for people with disabilities combine equipment loans, assistive technology, reasonable accommodation in teaching and examinations, mentoring through the BUDDY system, financial support and employment preparation. These schemes are delivered by a dedicated office, supported by formal university regulations, and publicly described on the university website.