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When designing digital materials or web content, it is important to take the four principles of digital accessibility into account. This ensures that all content is accessible and usable without barriers. These include:  Perceivability: Information must be des...

A prosthesis is an artificially manufactured replacement for a missing body part or organ. It may be visible externally, as in the case of arm or leg prostheses, or serve as an implant inside the body, such as in hip joints. The term derives from the Greek ‘pr...

A low-stimulus environment is a deliberately designed space that contains as few sensory stimuli as possible, such as noise, bright light, intense colours or strong odours. The aim is to protect people from overstimulation and to enable them to find peace, con...

Reproductive rights refer to the human rights that guarantee all people the right to make decisions about reproduction freely, autonomously and without discrimination. People with disabilities have the right to make autonomous decisions about their bodies, the...

A wheelchair is a mobility aid that helps people with walking difficulties or other physical limitations to get about. Wheelchairs enable independent movement and social participation in everyday life, education, work and leisure. Wheelchairs require professio...

A ‘safe space’ refers to a protected space (a physical space, period of time, event or platform) intended to protect people from various forms of violence, such as physical or discriminatory violence. However, there is debate as to whether discrimination, prej...

A Disability ID card / disabled persons pass is issued to people by the Social Security Office if a degree of disability (GdB) of 50 or more has been determined. The card states the degree of disability (e.g. 50, 70, 100) and whether there are any special indi...

The Representation for employees with disabilities (SBV) is the elected body representing the interests of employees with severe disabilities and those treated as such in companies, government departments and public institutions in Germany. It champions the ri...

A person is considered to have a recognized disability if the Benefits Office has determined that their degree of disability (GdB) is 50 or higher.

Screen readers are software programmes. This software converts text, buttons, images and other on-screen elements into speech or Braille, enabling users to hear the information or feel it via a Braille display. This allows them to use computers, smartphones an...

For people with disabilities, self-determination is of central importance because it implies the right and the ability to make autonomous decisions about one’s own life. This includes having adequate choices in shaping their daily lives, choosing where to live...

A shutdown refers to a withdrawal and disengagement response to extreme overwhelm, stress or sensory overload. Those affected often appear calm, apathetic or ‘unresponsive’ to others; they withdraw and barely respond when spoken to. A shutdown is an involuntar...

Student assistance provides personalised support for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Its aim is to enable students to participate in their studies on an equal footing. Assistance helps to break down disability-related barriers in everyday stud...

Synchronous teaching: The teacher and students take part in a course at the same time, within a clearly defined period with fixed start and end times. Asynchronous teaching: takes place independently of time and location. The lecturer and students do not inter...

Palantypists enable people with hearing impairments, for example, to engage with spoken content by transcribing it quickly and accurately. This can be done verbatim or in summarised form. The real-time nature of written interpreting is crucial, as it enables p...

Tactile floor plans help blind, visually impaired and sighted people to find their way around by presenting the layout of buildings, rooms or outdoor areas in a tactile format, and in some cases also using high-contrast colours. Raised lines and textures, amon...

A tactile ground guidance system is an arrangement of textured paving slabs or strips that provide orientation and safely guide people who are blind or visually impaired by allowing them to feel the surface with their feet or a white cane. Tactile paving syste...

Participation refers to the right and opportunity of all people to play an active part in, and to benefit from, all areas of society – such as education, work, politics, culture and leisure. In the context of disability, participation means that people with di...