Inclusive Access Services
An-Najah National University provides targeted support schemes for students, staff, and visitors with disabilities through the Disability Support Office (DSO). The office coordinates a wide range of academic, technological, and accessibility support services aimed at removing barriers to participation and ensuring equal access to education, employment, and campus life.
Support schemes include the provision of assistive technologies and specialized learning equipment, academic mentoring and guidance, counseling services, and flexible learning accommodations such as extended examination time and adapted assessment arrangements. The university also facilitates accessible learning materials, communication support, and individualized academic assistance when required. These targeted services are coordinated through the DSO access schemes, which provide structured support for individuals with disabilities across the university community.
In addition, the university provides specialized facilities and assistive technologies for students with visual impairments, including accessible learning tools that support participation in academic activities and access to course materials.
Through the Disability Support Office, individuals with disabilities may also receive guidance regarding financial support opportunities, scholarships, and career development services, helping ensure that students, staff, and visitors with disabilities can fully engage in academic programs, employment opportunities, and university activities.
These targeted support measures demonstrate the university’s strong commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunity, ensuring that members of the university community with disabilities can actively participate in academic, professional, and social aspects of university life.
- Facilities the admission and registration procedures of students with disabilities in its academic programs.
- Facilitating access to all of the university’s facilities, academic, administrative and health, stadiums, arenas and cafeterias ...etc.
- Facilitating access to information through offering free internet access and using automated email on Campus.
- Support students with a wide range of disabilities including, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, mobility difficulties, temporary injuries, and certain medical conditions.
- Offering assistive devices for students with mobility, hearing, voice, speech, or language disorders.
- Offering extra lessons to finish study plans on time in coordination with faculty deans and heads of departments.
- Providing scholarships and financial facilities to students with disabilities.
- Integrating disability students and staff into the university environment and involve them in social, artistic, cultural, musical bands, theater performances, sport activities, elections, exchange programs and training programs.
- Provides housing accommodations for students and staff with disabilities.
- Offering designated parking spaces for disable people.
- Hiring qualified staff from people with disabilities.
- Providing comprehensive advice and information about health insurance, customs exemption for cars, and income tax exemption.
- Providing assistive devices in cases of need for employees or any members of their families.
- Offering special services for students with visual impairment:
- Offering training programs for teachers and students about sign language, guiding and Braille Transcribing System.
- Issuing instructional manuals about the registration process in Braille.
- Offering blind students Braille Books.
- Interpreters (sign language, oral, and tactile) and real-time captioning.
- Providing scribes, amanuensis or note-takers to take notes in lectures and dictate answers in exams.
- Hiring Braille proofing and production specialists.
- Reasonable accommodations in examinations.
- Offers free accommodation for visually impaired students and facilitates their mobility to university campus.
The Disability Support Office embraces an integrated approach in its collaboration with relevant institutions, playing a pivotal role in shaping policies and initiatives that significantly impact the lives of individuals with disabilities.
Recognized as a key advisor to the Palestinian General Union of People with Disabilities, as well as to various universities and institutes, our unit actively engages in areas about human rights, education, and development. Through robust communication and collaboration with these entities, our primary objective is to cultivate an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with disabilities both within and beyond the university.
We place special emphasis on fostering environmental compatibility for people with disabilities within the university. This involves collaboration with stakeholders in education, social development, and related fields to provide the necessary support and achieve effective integration. The unit conducts training courses and workshops aimed at raising awareness about human rights and international legislation concerning people with disabilities. Additionally, we offer support and guidance to individuals and families by disseminating essential information and advice.
In our collaboration with the local community, the unit endeavors to broaden its impact. We establish supportive groups such as the Friends of Autistic Children Group in Nablus Governorate, sharing expertise and successful experiences with other regions. Furthermore, we extend support to individual cases by connecting them with relevant medical and legal authorities and offering social and psychological assistance.
The unit is committed to advancing education for students with disabilities through workshops and meetings that promote awareness of their rights, providing support to parents and students. Collaborating with local community institutions, we work to create a conducive work environment and employment opportunities for university graduates with disabilities, fostering their integration into the labor market for increased independence and empowerment.
In support of scientific research and development, the unit provides consultation and support services to researchers, master's, and doctoral students, locally and internationally, to enhance research in disability-related fields.
To raise awareness and engage with the public, the unit conducts periodic meetings with parents and high school students to introduce them to the services and scholarships offered by the university, particularly the scholarship fund for students with disabilities.
Through these comprehensive efforts, the unit demonstrates its unwavering commitment to serving society, improving the quality of life for individuals with special needs, and showcasing its effective role in providing support and assistance across various domains.