Advising for disabled and chronically ill students
According to the demographic study done by the DSW (German Student Services) in 2011, 8% of students have a study-relevant disability. This can include for example:
- Difficulty with mobility
- Visual, hearing, or speaking disabilities
- Mental illnesses such as depression or eating disorders
- Chronic illness such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, MS, or allergies
- Dyslexia and other partial disabilities
- Autism, etc.
Source: “Studying and Disabilities” from the DSW
Many of the students do not feel “disabled” or would not like to out themselves. This means that many possibilities open to students with such disabilities are not taken advantage of; often the students do not even know about them. In the end, they are losing out on taking advantage of the rights available to them.
Current developments and offers
In recent years, the goals and also the definition of the target group have changed:
- leaving behind care - towards true participation and
- moving away from classic disabilities - toward long-term physical, psychological, and sensory disabilities as well as toward long-lasting illnesses or those with episodic courses (chronic illnesses).
