1. What is the volunteer’s role?

The volunteer’s role is to support Students with Disabilities (SwD) during their learning, social, digital and infrastructure access of students with disabilities and/or special educational needs (SwD) of the University of Thessaly (UTH). For more information please visit: https://prosvasi.uth.gr/en/students/volunteering-in-prosvasi/the-volunteer/ 

2. I am not registered as a student at the University of Thessaly. Can I become a volunteer for the Accessibility Center? 

Only registered students of the university of Thessaly’s departments can become volunteers for the Accessibility Center.

3. How can I participate as a volunteer while supporting Students with Disabilities (SwD)?

Volunteers can choose one or more from the following list of actions:

• Help with the familiarization of first year SwD with the premises of the UTH and support them regarding their student life.
• Accompany SwD within the university premises (e.g. lecture halls, seminar rooms, laboratories, canteen, restaurant, secretariat, library, public transportation stations surrounding the buildings) 
• Support the SwD with their participation in lectures
• Amplify SwD’s access to educational material
• Support SwD during studying
• Support SwD in their socialization

4. What are my obligations and rights as a volunteer for the Accessibility Center?

• Respect the rules and regulations set by the Accessibility Center.
• Respect the confidential nature of personal information.
• Deny any monetary rewards offered.
• Understand that you cannot support a SwD with your own initiative. The SwD – volunteer pairing is selected by the Accessibility Center.
• Remember that the cooperation with the SwD regards only student matters and takes place only in places related to the UTH and that have been discussed beforehand with the Accessibility Center’s staff.
• Attend all meetings with the Accessibility Center’s staff, either in person or remotely. In case of non-participation for 3 or more meetings, you will not be considered a volunteer for the Accessibility Center anymore.
• Know that in case you want to stop your voluntary support of a SwD, you should inform the Accessibility Center’s staff as well as the SwD you currently support, in a timely manner, at the beginning of each semester.
• Inform the Accessibility Center for any problems that may arise.
• Remember that you cannot represent or replace a SwD you support during lectures/labs, during his/her communications with lecturers and administrative staff.
• Communicate directly with the SwD you support. In case the presence of his/her family members is necessary, they can distance themselves during your collaboration.
• Attend all educational programmes organized by the Accessibility Center in order to improve your knowledge and skills.
• Remember that you cannot support a SwD in matters that require medical knowledge or that can put his/her physical health in danger.

5. Will I receive a certificate for my participation in the Accessibility Center’s volunteer programme?

Yes. At the end of each year of volunteering you will receive a participation certificate. It is required that you support a SwD for at least one academic year regarding his/her access to one or more aspects of academic life.

6. Do I need prior experience or specialized knowledge?

No, you do not need any prior experience or specialized knowledge. During the volunteering programme, you will be mentored by the Accessibility Center’s staff, as well as attend educational seminars in order to further your knowledge and experience.

7. Does the Accessibility Center offer educational seminars for volunteers?

The Accessibility Center regularly hosts educational seminars and actions for its volunteers in order to further their skills and knowledge in accessibility and disability issues.

8. Is my participation in those seminars mandatory?

Your participation in the educational seminars is not mandatory, yet it is highly recommended that you attend those. In case the seminar’s content is relevant to the SwD you support and his/her accessibility needs, your presence is required.

9. Will I receive a certificate of attendance?

Yes, at the end of each seminar a certificate of attendance is sent to all participants.Please remember that these seminars aim to strengthen the accessibility of SwD. For this reason, we expect that you will apply what you’ve learned by supporting a SwD.

10. What is the shortest time period I can participate in the Accessibility Center’s volunteer programme?

The shortest time period you can participate in the Accessibility Center’s volunteer programme is one academic year.

11. Can I discontinue my participation in the volunteer programme whenever I want to?

No, you can request to be removed from the volunteer programme at the beginning of each academic semester by requesting it from the Accessibility Center’s staff in a timely manner at the beginning of the semester.

12. How many hours per week will I need to allocate?

Your availability hours range depending on each volunteer’s own volition to provide their time.

13. How will the collaboration with the SwD start?

Depending on the needs that may come up each semester, the Accessibility Center will contact you to enquire about your availability. Provided you are available, we will arrange a meeting with you and the SwD to discuss the memorandum of your collaboration.

14. What is the memorandum of collaboration?

The memorandum is a document recording the terms of collaboration between you and the SwD and other details regarding your and SwD’s obligations and responsibilities. 

15. Will my collaboration with the SwD be monitored by the Accessibility Center?

Yes, the Accessibility Center in the beginning of a volunteer’s collaboration with a SwD, as well as during the whole academic year, provides mentoring and support to both parties.

16. Can I support a SwD that attends classes of a different academic year or that is registered in a different Department?

Yes, you can support a SwD from another Department or one who attends classes from a different academic year, as long as you are a registered student of the UTH.

17. Do I need to have knowledge related to special education in order to support a SwD?

No, you do not need any special knowledge as the Accessibility Center provides sufficient support and training to volunteers with seminars and other educational activities, as well as with personal mentoring with any issues that may concern them. Additionally, the Accessibility Center’s goal is to help each volunteer to develop skills and evolve their existing ones with an ultimate goal of removing accessibility barriers of SwD.

18. Can I provide extra services from those agreed upon if the SwD asks me to?

No, you can provide only the services that were agreed upon in the memorandum of collaboration. In case a SwD asks for extra services, please contact the Accessibility Center’s staff.

19. Can I receive gifts or money for the support I provide?

No, the support you offer to SwD is voluntary, hence you cannot receive monetary or material rewards.

20. Is it within my responsibilities to communicate with the SwD’s family and/or any professionals they work with, if they ask me to?

No, it is not within your responsibilities to communicate with anyone other than the SwD himself/herself if that was not agreed upon during the memorandum of collaboration. In any case you can contact the Accessibility Center’s staff to consult them on the issue.

21. Can I contact the Accessibility Center’s staff to resolve any problems that may come up with the SwD I’m supporting?

The Accessibility Center’s staff is mentoring both parties during the whole time of your collaboration. You can reach out for any issue that you would like to discuss.

22. Can the lecturers ask me to intervene in one of their classes for matters regarding the SwD whom I’m supporting?

Volunteers don’t intervene in the teaching process, nor do they act as intermediaries for the SwD they support. Volunteers support SwD in the fields that they need, during the lectures by writing down notes or explaining terminology etc.

23. Can the lecturers request that I leave the room in case I’m not a registered student at their department?

Since you’re a registered volunteer for the Accessibility Center, you have the right to support a SwD by attending their classes, regardless of being registered in that department.