Establishment of an autonomous administrative service at the University of Macedonia at Office level, reporting directly to the Rector of the University of Macedonia, entitled "Equal Access Unit for persons with disabilities and persons with special educational needs", as follows:

1. Mission of the Equal Access Unit is to ensure the full participation of the members of the university community who are persons with disabilities and persons with special educational needs in all educational, research and administrative activities carried out by the University of Macedonia.

2. Particularly, the responsibilities of the Unit include:

a) the implementation of the plan for the equal access of the University of Macedonia,

b) the provision of support to the Committee for Equal Access of Article 220 in the exercise of its competences,

c) the monitoring of the national and European legislation and strategy regarding the rights of persons with disabilities,

d) the support of access to the educational process, in particular through appropriate accessible literature, educational materials and interpretation,

e) the support of alternative examination methods for students with disabilities and special educational needs, depending on their needs and educational potential,

f) the provision of individual assistive information technologies and the facilitation of digital accessibility,

g) the support of persons with disabilities and persons with special educational needs in their participation in research, projects/programmes carried out through the Special Account for Research Funds (ELKE), conferences and workshops, meetings of bodies, student assemblies, artistic and sports activities,

h) the safeguarding of electronic communication to resolve administrative issues of persons with disabilities and persons with special educational needs,

i) the safeguarding and facilitation of physical access of persons with disabilities, in particular by providing a transport and escort service,

j) the psycho-emotional support and guidance of persons with disabilities and persons with special educational needs, in collaboration with the Psychological and Counselling Support Center,

k) the collaboration with the Education Advisors to support students with disabilities and special educational needs,

l) the maintenance of statistical data related to disability and the accessibility of infrastructure and services of the Institution,

m) the exercise of any other authority specified in the Statutes of the University of Macedonia and related to the object of the Equal Access Unit.

3. The Equal Access Unit for persons with disabilities and persons with special educational needs is designated as a Reference Point of the University of Macedonia for monitoring the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, for the drafting of proposals and legislative arrangements for the optimal implementation of the Convention in Higher Education Institutions and annual progress report and their submission to the individual reference point of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs provided for by Article 71 of Law 4488/2017 (A' 137) as well as for the consultation with members of the academic community with disabilities on the above matters.

4. The Unit is primarily staffed by scientific staff with experience in matters of physical or digital accessibility and disability, or alternatively, by staff who has received proper training on the above matters.

5. The other units of the University of Macedonia are obliged to cooperate with the Equal Access Unit for persons with disabilities and persons with special educational needs regarding matters that fall within its competences.