Access and communication
Guidance and support management to access spaces, information, materials and tools, and to participate in the different forms of university communication.
University Welfare · UMECIT
Program of Inclusive Education
Your training, with opportunities to participate and learn.
At UMECIT we work to identify and reduce barriers that can affect access, learning and participation in university life.
From University Welfare, together with the academic and support units, we guide and support you in managing the educational support you may need during your training.
For all levels of training, including doctoral and continuing education, at all locations and in all modalities.
Your support routeFive steps to guide you
Inclusive Education Program
What is inclusion at UMECIT?
Inclusion is about recognizing diversity, listening to people, and identifying and reducing barriers that hinder their access, learning, and participation in university life.
At UMECIT, this commitment is realized through accessible educational experiences, respectful treatment, and support tailored to the needs of each individual, at all levels of training, locations, and modalities.
Not all needs are visible. They all deserve to be heard.
Diversity
Diversity and support for participation
At UMECIT, we recognize the diversity of our university community. People with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, and those with health conditions or other circumstances may encounter barriers during their studies. Each experience is unique: support is assessed through dialogue, respecting the autonomy, privacy, and needs of each person.
Learning and assessment
Accessible practices and educational support to understand the activities, organize the work and demonstrate learning, preserving the essential skills and requirements of the training.
Participation and educational continuity
Support in the face of health, personal, social, economic, cultural or technological circumstances that may affect the university experience, in coordination with the corresponding services.
Your experience matters. If you encounter difficulties participating or learning, you can talk to University Welfare about the support you need.
I need guidanceThe route
We'll be there for you.
You can contact Student Welfare before enrolling or during your studies. We will review any difficulties you encounter with you and coordinate support with the relevant departments, respecting your input and decisions.
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Contact
Write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa. Please indicate your program or activity and the difficulty you need to address. If you have an upcoming assessment or other activity, please include the date.
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Listen
We'll talk with you to understand the barriers you face, the resources you use, and the support you've found helpful. You can request initial guidance without immediately presenting a diagnosis.
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Valuation and agreements
University Welfare coordinates with the relevant departments to assess your needs. We will inform you about the measures taken, their conditions, and who is responsible for implementing them.
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Implementation
The responsible units manage and implement the agreed-upon support. If any difficulties arise, we will review the relevant alternatives with you.
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Follow-up
We review your experience to determine if the support provided facilitates your participation. When necessary, the measures and their continuation are reviewed in the event of changes to the subject, instructor, or term.
Your participation is part of every step. The information you share will be treated confidentially.Write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa
I need guidance
Educational guidance and support
Are you finding a barrier to participating or learning?
If a disability, health condition, or other circumstance makes it difficult for you to access university materials, classes, assessments, internships, or activities, you can request guidance from University Welfare.
We will review the difficulty with you and coordinate with the relevant units to assess the support you may need. You can request guidance before enrolling or during your training, at any level and in any modality, including continuing education.
How to request assistance?
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Communicate your need
Write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa. Please indicate your program or activity, location, format, and the level of difficulty you need addressed. If an assessment or other activity is approaching, please include the date.
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Complete the voluntary declaration.
Download the Voluntary Declaration of Educational Support Needs, complete the form and send it to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa.
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Receive guidance and support
University Welfare will contact you to understand your situation and coordinate the appropriate assessment. The relevant departments will define the support measures and their application conditions, with your participation and follow-up.
Protection of your personal data
The information you share will be treated confidentially, in accordance with Law 81 of March 26, 2019, on the Protection of Personal Data and its regulations. It will be used to assess, manage, and monitor educational support, with access limited to authorized personnel. Statistical results will be presented in aggregated and anonymized form.
The declaration is voluntary. You can request initial guidance even if you haven't yet completed the form or don't have supporting documentation. Communicating a need for support is not an additional admission or enrollment requirement.
I am a teacher, tutor, or facilitator
Guidelines for inclusive educational practice
This route guides teachers, tutors and facilitators at all levels of training, including doctoral and continuing education, in all UMECIT locations and modalities.
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Identify the barrier
Describe what hinders access, participation, or learning, and which activity is affected. Avoid assigning diagnoses.
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Check the accessibility
Check the instructions, materials, space, and tools. Implement general improvements within your functions, without waiting for a diagnosis.
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Have a private chat
Listen to the student or participant and ask what support they find helpful. Do not request unnecessary medical history.
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Request guidance
Write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa. Indicate the program, subject or activity, location, modality, identified barrier, and measures applied. If an assessment or other activity is approaching, indicate the date.
University Welfare will coordinate the assessment with the relevant authorities.
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Apply the authorized support
Confirm the conditions, resources, and application period. Maintain essential skills and learning outcomes. Communicate difficulties in managing alternatives, without unilaterally suspending or replacing authorized support.
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Review and continue
Check with the student whether the support is working and record the results. In case of changes to the subject, professor, or semester, coordinate with the academic department and Student Welfare to ensure the continuity of the current measures.
How do I obtain the institutional guide?
Request the following from your academic coordinator: Guide for Inclusive Education at UMECIT: Guidelines for teachers, tutors and facilitators on accessibility, educational support and reasonable adjustments.
For continuing education, request it from the organizing unit. The guide includes guidance for classes, assessments, practical exercises, research and presentations, a practical matrix, and a digital accessibility checklist.
Do you need guidance?
bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.paRemember: Share only the necessary information with authorized personnel.
Urgent situations: Inform the academic coordinator immediately, or, in continuing education, the organizing unit. Depending on the nature of the case, the appropriate units will be involved.
Accessibility
Accessibility to participate
Accessibility is an integral part of the university experience. At UMECIT, we work to identify and reduce barriers in spaces, communication, educational resources, and digital environments, with the participation of the responsible units.
Areas of action
Where we work to reduce barriers.
Physical spaces
Access routes, movement, signage, furniture and facilities.
Materials and learning
Accessible instructions and resources for learning and demonstrating learning.
Communication
Formats and support for understanding the information and participating.
Digital environments
Review of barriers in platforms, documents and virtual activities.
Access maps by location
Consult the available maps to identify entrances and marked routes within the facilities. If you need directions to a building or route, please contact Student Services.
Panama
La Chorrera
Santiago
Maps coming soon. Meanwhile, if you need directions to a building or tour, write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa.
chitre
Maps coming soon. Meanwhile, if you need directions to a building or tour, write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa.
David
Maps coming soon. Meanwhile, if you need directions to a building or tour, write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa.
Did you encounter an access barrier?
Tell us where it's happening, what activity it's disrupting, and what you need to participate. If it's happening in a digital environment, please specify the affected platform or resource.Write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa with the subject "Access Barrier Report".
Participa
Your contribution counts
Your experience helps us recognize what works and what we need to improve. You can share an inclusion experience, point out a barrier, or propose an improvement to promote access, learning, and participation at UMECIT.
What can you share?
An experience
A practice or support that has favored your participation.
A barrier
A difficulty in spaces, communication, materials, platforms or attention.
A proposal
An idea to improve the university experience.
How to send your contribution?
Write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa with the subject line "Contribution to the Inclusive Education Program." Describe the situation and indicate the location, modality, or related activity, when applicable.
University Welfare will review your contribution and coordinate its attention with the responsible units.
Privacy
Share only the necessary information. Avoid including health data or personal information of third parties. Submitting an experience does not authorize its publication; any disclosure will require the corresponding authorization.
Resources
Resources and activities
Knowing what resources are available helps us understand diversity and promote participation. Here you will find reference materials and official links about accessibility, sign language, disability certification, and support opportunities.
01
Panamanian Sign Language
SENADISReference material to help you learn Panamanian Sign Language and expand your knowledge of communication. It does not replace training or interpreting services.
02
Panama's National Plan for Universal Accessibility
2022–2032Consult the plan and the decree that adopts it to learn about national guidelines on accessibility of environments and services, and participation of all people.
03
Disability certification
SENADISOfficial information regarding the disability certification process, its requirements, and support channels. This process is separate from the UMECIT Voluntary Declaration of Educational Support Needs.
04
Scholarships for people with disabilities
IFARHUOfficial information about the scholarship program, its requirements and conditions. Evaluation and awarding are the responsibility of IFARHU.
05
UMECIT Scholarships and Benefits
UMECITLearn about the university's scholarship, financial aid, and discount options. Student Welfare will guide you through the requirements and application process. These benefits are awarded in accordance with applicable regulations and provisions.Write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa with the subject line "Inquiry about scholarships and benefits".
Activities for learning and participation
Learn about the awareness days, workshops and training spaces that we develop with the participating institutional units and organizations.
Frequent questions
Questions and contact
Here you'll find answers to help you take the first step. If your situation requires specific guidance, you can write to Student Welfare.
How do I request guidance?
Write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa. Please indicate your program or activity, location, format, and the level of difficulty you need addressed. If an assessment or other activity is approaching, please include the date.
Do I need a diagnosis to receive initial guidance?
No. You can report the difficulty and receive initial guidance without immediately submitting a diagnosis. If documentation is required to assess a specific measure, Student Welfare will explain what is needed and how to submit it.
How do I submit the voluntary declaration?
Download the Voluntary Declaration of Educational Support Needs, complete it and send it to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa. You can also ask for help completing it.
Will my information be kept confidential?
Yes. The information will be processed in accordance with personal data protection regulations. Access will be limited to authorized personnel who need to be involved. Teachers will be informed of the necessary conditions for providing support, without disclosing unnecessary clinical information.
Can I request support if I have already started my studies?
Yes. You can request guidance before enrolling or during your studies, if you identify a difficulty or your needs change. Support is available at all levels, including doctoral and continuing education, at all campuses and in all formats.
Do I need to repeat the application when I change teachers or subjects?
You do not need to reapply if you have authorized and current support. The relevant coordination office and Student Welfare will review its continuation and relevance for the new activities.
Do the support programs change the academic requirements?
The support measures aim to facilitate access, participation, and demonstration of learning. Competencies, learning outcomes, and essential program requirements are maintained. Measures requiring authorization are processed by the appropriate authority.
How do I request the guide if I am a teacher, tutor, or facilitator?
Request it from your academic coordination; in continuing education, to the organizing unit. For guidance on a particular situation, write to bienestar.universitario@umecit.edu.pa.