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In Disability Studies, a clear distinction is made between impairment and disability: an impairment refers to physical, mental or sensory differences – for example, the absence of a limb, impaired vision or a chronic illness. Disability, on the other hand, ari...

The Disability Equality Act (BGG) has been in force since 1 May 2002. It is intended to ensure equality for people with disabilities in the field of public law at federal level and implements the prohibition of discrimination set out in the Basic Law: ‘No one ...

The term ‘disability’ also takes the social dimension into account. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines the term ‘disability’ as follows: “People with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual...

A magnifier is an electronic visual aid that makes it easier for people with visual impairments to read and view text and objects. It consists of a camera that captures the text or image being read, and a monitor on which the image is displayed at a greatly ma...

Statutory regulation governing the implementation of accessible digital services by public bodies. Higher education institutions are obliged to ensure that their digital services comply with the BITV (BITV, as of 2023).

A combined form of learning in which face-to-face sessions are integrated with digital learning formats (e.g. e-learning, online lectures, learning platforms). For students with disabilities or chronic illnesses, blended learning offers the potential for more ...

The allowance for the blind is a form of financial support for blind people, regardless of their income or assets. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the monthly amount is currently €913.19 for adults under the age of 60 and €473.00 for those aged 60 and over. Minors ...

The white cane is a modern aid designed to promote mobility and independence for people with visual impairments. It helps users to detect obstacles, uneven ground, changes in level or changes in direction at an early stage. The cane is typically white in colou...

Body positivity is an approach that promotes the recognition and appreciation of all body shapes and sizes. The movement aims to challenge societal beauty standards and highlight the fact that a person’s worth does not depend on their appearance. For people wi...

Braille was invented by Louis Braille in 1825 and is regarded as the tactile writing system for the blind. It consists of six tactile dots which, in various combinations, represent letters and symbols.

An electronic device that enables blind or visually impaired people to read digital text in Braille (dot writing). The Braille display converts the information displayed on the computer screen into tactile characters.

Equal opportunities means that all people, regardless of individual characteristics such as gender, background, social status, age, religion or disability, have the same opportunities to develop their abilities, pursue educational pathways and participate in s...

The word ‘crip’ is derived from the English term ‘cripple’, which means ‘cripple’ in German. Originally a derogatory term, it has been deliberately reclaimed by many disabled people. Today, they use it as a symbol of self-empowerment and resistance against dis...

Crip Time is a concept that describes how people with disabilities, chronic illnesses or neurodivergent people experience time and the rhythms of life differently from non-disabled people. In contrast to so-called ‘normative time’ – that is, fixed time structu...

A cochlear implant, or CI for short, is a technical hearing aid that can, to a certain extent, compensate for the loss of function in the cochlea. In people with normal hearing, sound is conducted via the outer ear to the eardrum and from there, via the ossicl...

The Curb-Cut Effect is the phenomenon whereby facilities designed for people with disabilities are used and appreciated by a wider group of people than those for whom they were originally intended. The phenomenon is named after ‘curb cuts’ – small ramps that f...

Design for All is the German term for Universal Design and describes an approach in which products, services and environments are designed in such a way that they are accessible and usable by as many people as possible – regardless of age, ability or disabilit...

Digital accessibility can be described in a single sentence as follows: “Digital accessibility is the maximum degree to which a digital service can be used by as many users as possible” (Aydin 2021). Digital accessibility is based on the POUR principle: Percei...