Abstract:

According to statistics, by the beginning of 2020, one fifth of the EU population has some type of disability. In the 21st century, people are becoming increasingly aware of the ideas of humanism that underpin modern society. These ideas imply discovering and realizing the potential of each person, including the one with special needs. Creating equal opportunities and an accessible education environment, as well as successful integration into the social environment, is of paramount importance to these citizens.

A legal framework has been set up in Bulgaria that follows EU legal practices, seeking to specify these norms according to the Bulgarian conditions. Many of the international documents have been ratified.

In response to the legislative changes and the necessity to create an accessible environment and opportunities for the creation of trained specialists since the 2008/2009 academic year, the optional discipline of “Access to Information for People with Special Needs” has been introduced at the bachelor degree level in the specialty of Library and Information Management at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT).

The academic course “Access to Information for People with Special Needs” provides students with theoretical and practical knowledge of accessibility to information and education for people with disabilities and the role of libraries and other cultural institutions in this process. International, European and national normative and legislative documents related to the rights of persons with disabilities are being studied. The discipline deals with problems not only of people with disabilities, but also of other groups of people with special needs, such as elderly, sick and with temporary deficits, people in isolation for various reasons, etc.

Forms for interaction with organizations of and for persons with disabilities are presented. Knowledge of the following requirements is acquired: accessibility of the environment; mandatory requirements for the development of services for people with different disabilities; financial instruments; legal aspects and others in providing library and information services to disadvantaged people. The traditional approaches to library and information services for people with different disabilities are discussed, as well as the possibilities of new information and communication technologies for ensuring equal access to information and knowledge for all citizens. The experience of foreign libraries and public institutions, the good practices of Bulgarian libraries and Bulgarian and international initiatives are studied.

This report examines new, innovative forms of work with students to enable the broad-based development of their professional knowledge, skills and qualities. An experimental approach is presented for conducting seminars for fourth-year undergraduate students in full-time education studying the discipline of “Access to Information for People with Special Needs”.

Through their involvement in voluntary initiatives, the aim is to create the conditions for upgrading their qualification by building organizational capacity, enhancing their civic position on the problems of persons with special needs and acquiring sustainable practical skills for working in a real environment.

Keywords:

Bulgaria, University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT), Academic Discipline of “Access to Information for People with Special Needs”, student's experiences.