In the Johannes Gutenberg University’s 2017 student diversity survey, 8% of students indicated they were chronically ill or had a disability. According to the 21st social survey of the German National Association for Student Affairs (Deutsches Studentenwerk), up to 11% of students have an impairment that negatively influences their studies. However, the impairment is only immediately noticeable for a small portion of these 11%, especially when it comes to chronic illnesses. Only a small number of the impaired students take advantage of advising and support offers or bring it up in a teaching and learning context.
As a teaching staff member, this requires sensitivity and knowledge of the possible consequences of disabilities and chronic illnesses on learning processes as well as possible levels of influence and courses of action. The following handouts for teaching staff can give you an initial insight into the topic and helpful tips for dealing with disabilities and chronic illnesses in everyday university life: Dealing with people with disabilities in the program of study and Studying with Disability. At JGU, the Office of Accessibility will be happy to advise you.
Literature:
Meyer zu Bexten, Erdmuthe: Umgang mit beeinträchtigten Menschen im Studium, in: Diversität konkret. Handreichung für das Lehren und Lernen an Hochschulen. Hrsg.: Zentrum für Hochschul- und Qualitätsentwicklung an der Universität Duisburg-Essen.
Studieren mit Beeinträchtigung – Handreichung für Lehrende und Beschäftigte der TH Köln. Hrsg.: Präsidium der TH Köln, Köln 2016.
