Advice on barrier-free studying in 2022

Unbroken need for advice for students with disabilities

Photo: Felix Noak / stW BERLIN
Counselor greets students with a gesture

The “Barrier-free Studying” advisory service has made it its main task to support students who have special needs due to their individual disabilities. This includes comprehensive advice on various topics such as compensation for disadvantages, special admission conditions and study financing options, which are tailored to the needs of impairments.

The advisory service is aimed primarily at students who are confronted with long-term health problems. This includes not only visible impairments such as mobility restrictions or hearing and visual impairments. Students with illnesses or impairments such as Crohn's disease, cancer, rheumatism, HIV, ADHD, autism, mental illnesses, dyslexia and other impairments that are not immediately recognizable can also benefit from the offer. In 2022, the demand for consultations remained high.

Another central aspect of the work of “Barrier-free Studying” is the responsibility for granting inclusion allowances in accordance with the Berlin Higher Education Act. The focus is on ensuring that applicants and students already enrolled receive appropriate support based on their disability-related needs. Depending on the individual situation, these inclusion services can be granted, for example, in the form of study assistance, financial support for books or services such as sign language interpreters. The aim of the advice is to ensure equal opportunities in everyday study life for all students. In 2022, the number of applications for inclusion services fell slightly.
Picture shows development of individual consultations. The number of individual consultations increased from 3229 in 2020 to 3335 in 2021 to 2284 in 2022. The largest proportion of consultations in 2022 (2800 in total) were in writing, only 437 consultations were by telephone and only 147 consultations were given in person on site.
In 2022, inclusion services were awarded to 74 chronically ill people, 24 students with a physical disability, 46 students with a hearing impairment and 29 students with a visual impairment.

The number of individual consultations also increased in 2022, and most consultations continue to be in writing.
In 2022, inclusion benefits were primarily awarded to students with chronic illnesses.

Graphic shows the developments in inclusion services. The number of applications fell to 2022 in 229, and only 176 students received funding.
Accordingly, the amount of inclusion benefits paid out also fell, from 1,6 million euros in 2021 to 1,3 million euros in 2022.

The number of students supported by inclusion services fell in 2022.
The amount of total inclusion benefits paid out also fell accordingly.