The University of Valencia has been awarded with cermi.es Awards 2013, in the Institutional category, "for having taken decisively inclusive dimension of disability in all academic areas," according to notes from the jury. These awards are given by the Spanish Committee of Representatives of Persons with Disabilities (CERMI) in ten different categories.
Cermi.es Awards 2013 recognize the initiatives or actions, as well as the work of individuals or institutions that have distinguished themselves in areas such as labor market inclusion, social and scientific research and universal accessibility, or the institutional level, as is the case of the University of Valencia, in favor of people with disabilities and their families. This year's edition has gathered 115 aspiring candidates any of the ten categories that make up the award.
The University of Valencia, through the Integració per Unit for the Integration of People with Disabilities (UPD) provides a series of inclusion programs that are managed by attention to students with disabilities, research, teaching and social responsibility . The academic institution has shared the award in its category with the Office of Institutional European Parliament and the European Commission Representation in Spain.
Promoting equal opportunities
The UPD, part of the General Foundation of the University of Valencia, is a service constituted by a multidisciplinary team whose business is to provide care, support and advice on disability to the entire university community. Its primary mission is to promote equal opportunities for all people within the University through a series of actions contained in psychoeducational counseling programs, equal opportunities, awareness, training and volunteering universal accessibility and attention to teachers.
Since 2005, the UPD has the certification of Quality Management System according to ISO 9001:2008, and a Letter of Service developed in 2008. In September 2012, the University of Valencia was certified AENOR Universal Accessibility to the Education Library Maria Moliner, framed recognition in Sustainable Campus Program, funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports through the Universal Access program and Integration of VLC / CAMPUS.
Thus, the work done by the University of Valencia has been recognized on several occasions, most notably for the Prize for Best Public Sector Organization, granted under the Tefónica Ability Awards 2012, some awards that recognize Spanish companies and institutions for their commitment and social momentum regarding attention to disability as an added value within organizations.
Additional winners
The jury, headed by the president of CERMI, Luis Cayo Pérez Bueno, have been joined by representatives of the ONCE and its Foundation, FEAFES, CNSE, COCEMFE, FIAPAS, FEDACE and FEDER, and has been advised by a committee of independent experts in corporate social responsibility.
Prizes have been awarded in the categories of Labor Inclusion Programme to Combat Discrimination European Social Fund, Social and Scientific Research at the National Institute of Statistics (INE), Social Action and Culture Project Theatre to Be Accessible from Accessible Aptent , Universal Accessibility, Vodafone Foundation to the City of Valladolid by the Municipal Accessibility Plan 'Removing barriers, including individuals'; Best Action for the benefit of women with disabilities to the Vodafone Foundation, the organization COCEMFE and Equality Commission House of Representatives, Media and Social Image trained program, produced by the ONCE Foundation and delivered by TVE, and initiative World Down Syndrome Day, sponsored by Down Spain, Best Action Regional and / or Local to Town Hall Logroño, Corporate Social Responsibility / Disability Mapfre Foundation, and Associative Path to Antonio Ventura Diaz.
ONCE and its Foundation have also been honored with a Special Prize in its 75th and 25th anniversary, respectively, for his contribution of Spanish disabilities to community living.
Last update: 26 de september de 2013 14:55.
News release
