Aspect Disability | chronic illness | neurodiversity
Disabilities and chronic mental or physical illnesses are part of many people's reality of life. However, processes and structures in working life and studies are often still orientated towards a physically and mentally ‘functioning’ norm. Inclusion attempts to identify and dismantle the resulting barriers and exclusion mechanisms.
Disability | chronic illness | neurodiversity in studies, research and employment
According to the Germany-wide online survey ‘The Student Survey in Germany’, 16 per cent of students have one or more impairments that make studying difficult. Compared to previous surveys, this figure has risen sharply. The most common type of impairment is mental illness, followed by chronic illness and multiple impairments. The majority of respondents have an impairment that is not noticeable. There is a strong interaction with other diversity categories. For example, the proportion of impairments that make studying difficult is significantly higher among students with a diverse or different gender identity than among cis students. The proportion is higher among students from Germany than among international students, and students with caring responsibilities are also more frequently affected by impairments that make studying more difficult than students without caring responsibilities. Students can apply for compensation for disadvantages in order to enable equal participation opportunities and avoid discrimination. This can mean the use of technical aids, but also (study) assistance or adapted framework conditions for examination situations.
Support and contact points at Heidelberg University
For students
To apply for compensation for disadvantages, students can contact the relevant examination office or the head of examinations directly. It is important that you contact the relevant examination management or examination office in due time. It is also advisable to seek advice and information in advance from the representative for disabled and chronically ill students and the counsellors from TIS - Team Inklusives Studieren of the Student Advisory Service. The Student Administration advises and provides information on possible part-time study or leave of absence. The respective Student Advisory Service is responsible for providing support in drawing up individual study plans. The Autonomous Health Department of the StuRa can apply for a refund of the semester ticket for severely disabled students, and the department also offers counselling and incident reporting. In stressful situations, the Psychosocial Counselling for Students (PBS) is an important point of contact.
For employees
The Representative Body for Severely Disabled Employees promotes the integration of (severely) disabled people into the university, represents their interests and provides them with advice and support. The university's reintegration management team provides support and advice on returning to work after long periods of absence.