Measures in the Area Disability/Chronic Illness

Strategic Measures

Accessibility Work Group

On the recommendation of the Permanent Senate Commission, the Rectorate resolved on 24 March 2010 to establish an “accessibility” work group under the chairmanship of the vice rector. By bringing together existing groups concerned with the issue of students and employees with a disability or chronic illness (including the Office for Gender and Diversity, the representative for disabled employees, and the representative for students with a disability) as well as the students and employees concerned, the university aims to intensify its engagement in this area and create further synergies. The work group follows the goal of formulating strategies and measures to improve accessibility at the University of Freiburg and increasing awareness and understanding for disabilities and chronic illnesses at all levels. The group does not limit its understanding of the term “barrier free” to the literal sense of ensuring that disabled students and employees have access to university buildings and facilities but also advocates the removal of other barriers that have prevented them from enjoying a self-directed course of study or working life up to now.

“Accessibility Internet Portal” Project

A measure currently in the process of being planned and implemented within the context of a one-year student-initiated project coordinated by the representative for students with a disability is the collection of data and documentation concerning the accessibility of university buildings. In addition to collecting and evaluating this data for internal purposes, the project team is planning an information service for disabled persons. The information on accessibility will be integrated into the pages providing information on buildings on the university homepage and will be organized into separate sections for different kinds of disabilities, allowing people with visual and physical impairments to find an appropriate way into and through the buildings. At the same time, the team will work out and suggest solutions with regard to buildings or rooms that are only partially or not at all accessible to the disabled.

Awareness-Raising Strategy

For the year 2012, the university plans to draft a comprehensive awareness-raising strategy for the area “studying with a disability.” The strategy will include measures (guides, awareness training, informational events, etc.) designed to raise awareness for the topic “disability” among specific groups, such as teachers, administration, student and examination administration, advising and service departments, and students without a disability. The goal is to establish the topic as a permanent part of university practices and to promote a culture of diversity, tolerance, and mutual respect among employees and students. Moreover, the strategy will be accompanied by strategic measures for implementing “barrier-free teaching.” Great care will be taken to involve the target group “disabled students” in all phases of the planning and implementation of optimization processes.

Specific Measures for Students

“Studying with a Disability” – Information and Advising for Prospective and Current Students with a Disability/Chronic Illness

The university provides a continually expanding body of up-to-date information for prospective students, current students, and graduates with a disability on the online Student Portal. In addition to the regular student advising services, the representative for students with a disability offers disabled students individual advising and support in solving disability-related problems (such as applying for compensation for disadvantages) and conflicts during their studies.
Link to the website "Studying with a Disability"

Workspaces for the Visually Impaired

The university libraries UB1 and UB2 each have a room with special workspaces for the blind and visually impaired. They are equipped with a PC and the necessary software, a large monitor with a swivel arm, a scanner with text recognition software, speakers, a Braille terminal, and two screen readers. In addition, the rooms include two workspaces with cool beam lamps.
Services for Disabled Persons at the University Library
 

Audio Induction Loops

Many lecture halls at the University of Freiburg are equipped with an audio induction loop. An overview is available on the website Studying with a Disability

Admissions – Hardship Quota and Compensation for Disadvantages

Up to 5% of the available admission slots in fields of study with locally restrictive admissions are reserved for cases of extreme hardship. Students with a disability/chronic illness can apply to be considered as a hardship case (application to be considered as a hardship case in the allocation of admission slots within the context of the quota for cases of extreme hardship). The admission slots available under the hardship quota are granted in accordance with stringent criteria to applicants who would experience disadvantages extending far beyond that normally to be expected.
In addition, it is possible to apply for disadvantage compensation (improved waiting period). The applicant must provide evidence of having been prevented from achieving a better waiting period due to exceptional circumstances over which he or she had no control.

Compensation for Disadvantages in Examination Regulations

In the area of the structure and organization of studies, the integration of provisions on the compensation for disadvantages into study and examination regulations ensures that disabled students receive special consideration. Several examples of possible compensation measures are an “appropriate extension of time limits for written examinations, breaks, or the granting of material or personal support.”

Mentoring by the Hildegardis Association

The University of Freiburg is the only higher education institution in Germany to refund the participation fee for mentees in the Hildegardis Association’s “Mentoring Program for Female Students with a Disability,” the only program of its kind in the country.
Mentoring Program of the Hildegardis Association

Specific Measures for Employees

Integration Agreement

The University of Freiburg, the representatives for disabled employees, and the Staff Council signed an integration agreement pursuant to §81 SGB IX in March 2005.
Integration Agreement [PDF] (German)
 

Advising Service

The representatives for disabled employees provide comprehensive information for disabled employees and those of equal status on their website. The site also posts office hours for individual advising on all questions concerning the topic “working with a disability/chronic illness,” such as accessibility at the workplace, conflicts with colleagues or supervisors, or application procedures.
Link to the website of the representatives for disabled employees
 

Part-Time Work

Employees have had the option to apply individually to the Human Resources Department for a reduction in working hours since 1995. In the past five years the part-time option has been expanded continually. Part-time employment models now range from 20% to 100% and from one to five days per week. Disabled employees who apply for a reduction in working hours due to the type and severity of their disability receive special consideration.