This Tuesday, the facilities of the Unit for the Integration of People with Disabilities (UPD) and the University Centre of Early Intervention Childhood (CUDAP), services integrated in the General Foundation of the University of Valencia, have received the visit of a broad institutional delegation headed by the principal of the University of Valencia, Esteban Morcillo, and the Counselor of Social Welfare, Asunción Sánchez Zaplana.

They have been accompanied in their journey by the general director of People with Disabilities and Dependency, Pilar Collado; the vice-principal for Academic Regulations and Teaching Staff, Maria Vicenta Mestre; the delegate of the principal for Students, Daniel González Serisola; the dean of the Faculty of Psychology, Alicia Salvador; and the general manager of the University of Valencia General Foundation, Cristóbal Suria.

The Integration of People with Disabilities (UPD) is a service of the University of Valencia 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 who integrate the University through a series of actions contained in psychoeducational counseling programmes; equal opportunities, awareness, training and volunteering; universal accessibility and attention to teaching staff.

Since 2005, the Integration of People with Disabilities (UPD) has the certification of Quality Management System, according to the ISO Regulations 9001:2008, and a Service Charter developed in 2008. In September 2012, the University of Valencia obtained the certificate of Universal Accessibility of Aenor for the María Moliner Education Library, a recognition framed in the Sustainable Campus Programme, funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport by means of Universal Accessibility and Integration of the VLC/Campus.

Thus, the task developed by the University of Valencia has been recognised on different occasions, most notably for obtaining the Prize for Best Public Organisation Sector, awarded in the framework of the Telefónica Ability Awards 2012, some awards that recognize the Spanish companies and institutions for their commitment and social momentum regarding care to disability as an added value within organisations.

The director of People with Disabilities (UPD), Celeste Asensi, welcomed authorities to lead them to the computer room and the Library, located in the Faculty of Psychology, site of this unit. The facilities are tailored to the needs of people with different disabilities: visual, auditory, motor, etc.

The visit has been moved, right after, to the University Centre of Early Intervention Childhood (CUDAP), where this delegation was received by the centre’s director, Francisco Alcantud, along with whom they have done a tour over the rooms working with children with autism and other cognitive difficulties: Speech Therapy, for speech or communication disorders; Physiotherapy, with two professionals, treatments with children with motor disabilities are made; multipurpose, where Tecche methodology is applied, with three teachers working with children with communication, behaviour and cognitive disorders; Multisensory Stimulation, a working tool for all professionals and children, and Family Guidance, which guides families.

The aim of the University Centre of Early Intervention Childhood (CUDAP) is to pay attention, for outpatient treatment, to the needs of children who have disorders in their development or have risk of suffering them in a complete way in order to enhance their abilities and enabling their integration into the familiar, school and social environment, as well as their personal autonomy. This centre was created in 2006 by a collaboration agreement between the University of Valencia and the Ministry of Social Welfare.

The University Centre of Early Intervention Childhood (CUDAP), which currently provides care to 72 families, has recently developed a new material, Visual Displays, to work the temporary concept in children between 2 and 7 years old with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), lack of care or other kind of cognitive difficulties. It is a project result of a collaboration agreement between the University of Valencia, through the University Centre of Early Intervention Childhood (CUDAP), Toy Technological Institute (AIJU) and Miniland Educational Company.