Sustainable AASTMT

Disability Policy

DISABILITY SUPPORT AND INCLUSIVE SERVICES POLICY Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) Egypt  |  www.aast.edu

AASTMT is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment for all members of its community, including individuals with disabilities. This policy outlines the support structures, services, access schemes, residential provisions, and funding strategies in place to ensure full and fair participation in academic, residential, and social life for people with disabilities at AASTMT.

This policy should be read alongside the AASTMT Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and the Anti-Discrimination Framework.

2.1 Role and Functions of the Accessibility Center

The Accessibility Center provides the following core services:

• Academic advising and individual accessibility planning
• Psychological and medical support referrals
• Assistive technology training and provision
• Faculty and staff awareness workshops and inclusion training
• Mentorship and social support for students with disabilities
• Coordination of individual support plans tailored to each student's educational and personal needs

2.2 AC Staff

Dedicated Disability Advisors are assigned to each campus and work directly with students to develop and implement support plans.

Name	Role	Campus
Dr. Aliaa Mounir	AC Coordinator	Abu Qir, Alexandria
Dr. Safaa Allam	Administration and Communications	Miami, Alexandria
Mrs. Eman Dawad	Accessibility Services	Abu Qir, Alexandria
Ms. Nourhan Elbarbary	Head of central unit to support students with special needs	Abu Qir, Alexandria

2.3 Campus Locations and Opening Hours

Campus	Location
Abu Qir Campus, Alexandria	Room 106 CS and CS Library
Miami Campus, Alexandria	Rooms A209 and A317
Sheraton Campus, Cairo	Room 211

Opening hours during the academic term are Sunday to Thursday, 08:30 AM to 3:30 PM. During summer, hours are 09:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

 

Further information is available at: https://aast.edu/en/centers/ac/contenttemp.php?page_id=99600021

3.1 Physical Infrastructure

All AASTMT campuses provide the following accessibility features:

• Ramps at all building entrances and level transitions
• Elevators in multi-storey buildings
• Wide corridors to accommodate wheelchair users and mobility aids
• Accessible and clearly signed restrooms on each floor
• Designated accessible parking spaces close to main building entrances
• Assistive signage and building navigation aids throughout all campuses

3.2 Transportation

• A GPS-tracked shuttle service is available for students with mobility challenges, providing door-to-door support between campus facilities

3.3 Assistive Technology and Equipment

The Accessibility Center deploys the following equipment across campuses. All staff are trained to guide students through installation and use in academic tasks.

 

Disability Category	Equipment and Technology Provided
Visual Impairments	JAWS Pro screen reader; Infovox4 speech synthesizers; ZoomText magnifiers; Braille printers (Everest-D and INDEXBRAILLE); BrailleSense U2 MINI note takers; large keyboards and Braille keyboard labels
Hearing Impairments	Fixed and mobile induction hearing loops; real-time captioning and subtitling systems
Mobility Disabilities	Alternative input devices including joysticks and accessible hardware peripherals

4.1 Mentoring and Counseling

• One-on-one mentoring is available for all registered students with disabilities, matched with trained advisors from the Accessibility Center
• Inclusive student counseling and mental health support services are accessible to all students, with tailored pathways for those with disabilities

4.2 Entrepreneurship and Social Inclusion

• The Goodwill Incubator provides dedicated entrepreneurship support for students with disabilities, enabling participation in business development, skills training, and startup programs
• AASTMT participates in national inclusion programs and hosts student workshops focused on empowerment, rights awareness, and professional development for students with disabilities

4.3 Scholarship and Financial Access

• Sawiris Foundation scholarships are available for students with disabilities, providing financial support to ensure academic participation is not limited by economic circumstances
• Additional financial assistance pathways are available through the Deanery of Student Affairs for students with documented disability-related needs

5.1 Accessible Residential Facilities

AASTMT on-campus accommodation includes:

• Wheelchair-accessible rooms with appropriate spatial and physical modifications
• Elevators and level-access pathways throughout all residential buildings
• Proximity of accessible rooms to key services, including the Accessibility Center, dining facilities, and learning spaces
• Reserved accommodation spaces for students with physical and medical needs, allocated on a priority basis

5.2 Support and Modifications

• On-request support is available for housing and catering modifications to accommodate dietary, physical, or medical requirements
• Students requiring residential accommodation are encouraged to register with the Accessibility Center prior to the commencement of each academic year to allow adequate planning

6.1 Academic and Examination Adjustments

AASTMT makes reasonable adjustments in the following areas:

• Modifications to course delivery methods, including alternative formats, extended deadlines, and accessible teaching materials
• Exam accommodation, including extra time, separate examination rooms, use of assistive technology, and reader or scribe support
• Alternative assessment formats where standard assessments present an unreasonable barrier

6.2 Access to Staff, Services, and Technology

• Dedicated Disability Advisors and support staff are funded and deployed at each campus
• All assistive technology listed in Section 3.3 is provided at no cost to students
• Medical and psychological referral services are coordinated through the Accessibility Center

6.3 Funding and Resource Allocation

• AASTMT allocates dedicated budget lines for inclusive infrastructure, assistive technology procurement, staff training, and ongoing accommodation support
• The institution maintains active partnerships with NGOs and governmental bodies to supplement institutional funding and expand the scope of support available to students with disabilities
• Resource allocation is reviewed annually as part of the institutional budget cycle, ensuring that provisions remain current and sufficient

6.4 Individual Support Plans

Every registered student with a disability is entitled to an Individual Support Plan (ISP), developed jointly by the student and their assigned Disability Advisor. The ISP:

• Documents the student's specific disability-related needs and agreed adjustments
• Is shared with relevant academic staff (with the student's consent)
• Is reviewed at the start of each academic year or following any significant change in circumstances
• Is maintained on a confidential basis in accordance with data protection obligations

Students wishing to access disability support services should follow the process below:

 

Step 1	Contact the Accessibility Center at your campus or via the central website to initiate registration
Step 2	Provide relevant documentation of your disability or condition to support your application for adjustments
Step 3	Meet with your assigned Disability Advisor to discuss your needs and agree on an Individual Support Plan
Step 4	Your ISP is communicated to academic staff and relevant service providers
Step 5	Review your ISP with your Advisor at the start of each academic year or when circumstances change

8.1 Student Feedback

AASTMT actively collects feedback from students with disabilities on the quality of support services. Feedback is gathered through regular surveys administered by the Accessibility Center and contributes to annual service improvement reviews. Student feedback has consistently highlighted strong satisfaction with the resources, staffing, and responsiveness of the AC.

8.2 Complaints

Any student or staff member who believes they have been treated unfairly, or who considers that reasonable accommodation has not been provided, may raise a formal complaint through:

• The Accessibility Center Coordinator at their campus
• The Deanery of Student Affairs
• The HR Department for staff-related concerns

Complaints will be handled promptly and without retaliation, in accordance with the AASTMT Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

8.3 Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated in response to legislative changes, feedback from students and staff, or significant changes in institutional provision. The next scheduled review is May 2026.

 

 

Policy Title	AASTMT Policy on Disability Support and Inclusive Services
Date Created	2019
Approving Body	SDG Workforce Committee
Version	4
Last Review Date	May 2025
Next Review Date	May 2026
Policy Owner	Deanery of Student Affairs, Accessibility Center
Lead Contact	Vice President for Education and Student Affairs; AC Coordinator
Approval Signature	Dean of Scientific Research and Innovation
Reference	https://aast.edu/en/centers/ac/contenttemp.php?page_id=99600021