Educational and career counselling as part of making universities more accessible to students with disabilities
Every individual has a range of choices for their life path. It is largely dependent on family, environment, value system and a very important area for every individual - education. It is education that opens a window onto the world, helps us find our place, achieve success, but above all, education is an opportunity for an equal start in adult life for everyone, regardless of background, wealth or place of residence. This is particularly important in the case of people with disabilities who, as full members of society, constantly have to prove that they have the same rights, that they can and want to fulfil the same responsibilities. However, this is not always possible due to the full accessibility barriers that still exist. These also apply to public buildings and services, including education. Measures taken in recent years have significantly improved architectural and digital accessibility. This is also noticeable in higher education, which is increasingly inclusive. However, this support should be extended to assist students with disabilities in their transition to the labour market, so that the inclusion process also takes place after the end of education. It is the educational and career counselling process that responds to the needs of students with disabilities, where they not only receive support, but also have the opportunity to plan their individual career path according to their predispositions, abilities and limitations. The essence of everyone’s life is to flourish, to have new goals. A vocational counsellor focusing on the desirable aspects of the psychological and social functioning of a student with a disability not only participates in his/her vocational activation, but also levels the playing field on the open labour market.