An accompaniment and support service since 1991
Peps'In is an accompaniment and support service for students with disabilities, disorders or illnesses who study at UCLouvain. It is subject to the decrees on inclusive higher education for students with disabilities (the decree of January 30, 2014 and the decree of February 7, 2019).
As soon as you knock on the door, you will be welcomed to receive information about the help, support and/or accompaniment you can benefit from during your studies if you suffer from a disability, disorder or illness.
Peps'In is located in the Service d'Aide building (10, Rue des Wallons). Accessible to students with reduced mobility, it can be reached via the Voie du Roman Pays at number 1. A door will automatically open to welcome you. Then, go to PEPS'In by taking the door on your right.
The team
The PEPS'In team is made up of ten people ready to invest in your studies so that they take place in the best conditions, not only academically but also in your daily life, in your accommodation and socially.
The team includes :
- 9 pedagogical assistants intervene in the different faculties and schools with the PEPS(HTM) students, their professors and with the personnel from the logistic and administrative services involved.
- 1 social worker who welcomes you, can help you in your daily life (search for adapted housing, nursing care, family assistance...) and put you in contact with professionals who could help you.
- 1 psychologist who coordinates the service and who chairs the Commission that grants FIFO (HTM) status to UCLouvain students. She is in charge of the application files for pedagogical support during studies in favor of students with disabilities who depend on the AVIQ, the Phare or other disability recognition organizations.
- 1 person in charge of the administrative follow-ups related to PEPS(HTM) students.
Role and functions off the accompanying persons
The pedagogical assistants (PA) intervene directly with the students who have the status of PEPS(HTM), with their professors and assistants and with the technical and administrative personnel involved in the faculty. Their roles are diverse and varied. They work in close collaboration with the PEPS faculty advisor, the academic advisors, the administrative secretariats and the faculty academic authorities (jury presidents, deans or vice-deans).
The PAs have a good knowledge of disabilities, disorders and diseases. This expertise is acquired in the field thanks to the information transmitted by the beneficiaries of the status, who give them information on how they function in their daily life, in their studies and with what means.
A true companion during your studies, the educational advisor is a resource person that you can contact once you have been granted PEPS(HTM) status. It is with this person that you will introduce yourself, describe your needs in terms of accommodations during your studies and establish your Individualized Support Plan (PAI). The PA will explain your responsibilities, the procedure and the commitments you must make to obtain them.
The PA's main functions are to
- Educate and inform the entire university community of its duty to implement the Inclusive Higher Education Decree;
- Develop the Individualized Accompaniment Plan;
- Organize with the faculties, the implementation of the PAI and the accommodations mentioned therein during the studies: during the courses and during the exams;
- Ensure the accessibility of courses, practical work and examinations for students with reduced mobility;
- Ensure pedagogical support for PEPS(HTM) students, which can be more sustained for students with disabilities who have a recognition from an organization such as the AVIQ (Agency for a quality life), the Phare (Person Handicapée Autonomie Recherchée) or the Dienststelle für Personen mit Behinderung.
Educational support may consist of:
- Providing additional explanations, by means of the required adaptations, of certain course subjects whose understanding may be impaired due to the student's disability;
- Accompanying the student in bibliographic research and in the adaptation of reference documents, particularly for the completion of assignments and the dissertation;
- Setting up teams of note-takers; student-resources for group work... ;
- Helping the student to acquire a method of work and academic studies adapted to his/her disability, disorder or illness.
In addition to this more academic work for HTM students, the PAs help to
- Organizing socio-cultural activities between and for PEPS students (HTM)
- Aperitif" evenings with students from the Service Kots and Project Kots (related to disability)
- Dinner with students who benefit from educational support financed by the Phare, the AVIQ or others
- Cultural and inclusive club
- Etc.
- Participate in study days, conferences, etc. on the theme of inclusion
- Creation of pedagogical and/or logistical tools to help PEPS(HTM) students maximize their effectiveness during their studies.
PEPS faculty referent(not available in all faculties)
The faculty advisor is an academic and/or administrative contact for the faculty. They work in conjunction with the PA. Like the AP, he/she is the link between the various juries and professors involved in order to ensure the organization and implementation of accommodations for PEPS students, particularly during evaluation activities (tests and exams). He/she is also a link between the PEPS'In reception and support service and the members of the faculty concerned.