Accessibility

Accessibility-friendly navigation across campus with UniMaps

2026-11-13T14:12:22+01:00

As the Bielefeld university campus continues to expand, it may become more difficult to find your way around. Added to this are numerous barriers such as stairs, steep ramps and doors, some with automatic opening mechanisms and others without. This can be a particular challenge when moving between lectures or appointments.

The Accessibility Services (ZAB) offer UniMaps, an app that can help with many of these challenges. UniMaps provides step-by-step navigation to any room on campus. The navigation can be tailored to your individual needs. For example, you can avoid stairs, lifts and crowds.

UniMaps also offers a number of other features relating to Bielefeld University. For instance, you can use quick navigation to find the nearest toilet (accessible, all-gender, etc.), the nearest train station or the nearest unicard validation machine.

As well as navigation, the app allows users to access information on the Studierendenwerk’s catering facilities and train departure times in a way that is accessible to all and optimised for screen readers.

UniMaps demonstrates how specialised apps designed for small target groups can create added value for everyone.

The app is available on the Play Store for Android and on the App Store for iOS. Further information can be found on the ZAB’s UniMaps website.

Closing event of the Competence Centre for Accessible Digital University Administration.NRW

2026-11-05T11:01:47+01:00

The Competence Centre for Accessible Digital University Administration.NRW invites you to its final networking meeting on Tuesday, 1st December 2026, from 10.00 to 11.00 a.m.

After a project duration of two and a half years, the project ending date will be 31st December 2026. The Competence Centre would therefore like to take this opportunity, together with the participants, to consider which project content, materials and results will be retained beyond the project ending date and how these can continue to be utilised.

There will also be a mini-quiz on digital accessibility – with the chance to win a small prize.

Registration is required to take part in the closing event: Link to register via Zoom

Action Week: "Diversity in the Mind – Working and Studying Well Together with Neurodiversity, Migraines or Headaches"

2026-10-29T09:35:18+01:00

Under the motto “Diversity in the Mind”, this year’s campaign week – part of the “Health & Diversity” series of events – focuses on the topics of neurodiversity and headache disorders. From 2 to 6 November 2026, a variety of event formats will explore the significance of neurodiversity – such as autism, ADHD or giftedness – as well as migraines and headache disorders for studying and working at university.

In addition to clarifying terminology, providing information and raising awareness, a panel discussion and various workshops will offer opportunities for discussion. Whether you are neurodivergent yourself – with or without a diagnosis –, suffer from migraines or headaches, or are simply interested: all members of the university are warmly invited!

“Health & Diversity” is a series of events organised by the Health Management, Equal Opportunities Office, Family Services and Diversity and Inclusion departments.

Please note: Registration is required for some events. Details of how to register can be found on the "Health & Diversity" website.

International Student Week: "Beyond Barriers: Accessible Studying in Practice"

2026-09-18T08:50:09+02:00

From 21 to 25 September 2026, the Accessibility Services (ZAB), in collaboration with NEOLAiA, are organising an international student week on the theme "Beyond Barriers: Accessible Studying in Practice”.

This week, students from the nine NEOLAiA universities are taking part in a varied programme comprising lectures, their own project work and excursions in Bielefeld, whilst getting to know the university and the city of Bielefeld. During the week, they will learn more about accessibility and inclusion at Bielefeld University, discover practical solutions for inclusive study, and engage in discussions with student initiatives. As part of a project, they will also develop their own ideas and initiatives which they hope to implement at their own universities.

The week aims to raise awareness of barriers that may arise during studies and to drive forward change at the NEOLAiA universities.

Lecture "Digital can be simple too! Accessible websites for people with learning disabilities"

2026-08-20T09:35:57+02:00

People with learning disabilities often encounter barriers online. But how can websites be designed so that they are easy to understand, clearly laid out and user-friendly? As part of the #LeichtOnline project run by Lebenshilfe Hamburg, numerous usability tests were carried out over a five-year period in collaboration with people with learning disabilities. The resulting recommendations highlight what really matters when it comes to accessible websites.

The Competence Centre for Accessible Digital University Administration.NRW invites you to a lecture on 3 September 2026 from 10:00 to 11:30 entitled "Digital can be simple too! Accessible websites for people with learning disabilities". At the event, Susanne Zornow and Britt Uhlenbrok Jensen will present key findings from the project, as well as a practical guide and a best-practice website.

Registration is required for the event.The lecture is aimed at higher education staff in North Rhine-Westphalia and is free of charge. The event will be held in German.

Funding for the "InkluBuddy – Network for Inclusive Counselling and Teaching" project

2026-07-23T10:54:19+02:00

Whether they have been in post for a long time or have only just started, representatives, counsellors and teaching staff alike face many shared challenges. Issues relating to disadvantage compensation, advising students with disabilities and chronic illnesses, or ensuring accessible teaching and examinations are part of everyday working life. Often, the best solutions emerge where experiences are shared and knowledge is developed collaboratively. It is precisely this exchange of expertise that can make a decisive difference.

The Accessibility Services (ZAB) are addressing precisely this issue with the "InkluBuddy – Network for Inclusive Counselling and Teaching" project and aim to strengthen uniform quality standards within the North Rhine-Westphalia State Working Group on Studies and Disability (LAG SB NRW) using a variety of methods. The project is being funded with 225,000 euros by the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education under the "Focus on Networks 2026" funding programme, running from October 2026 to September 2029.

The project centres on the development of a structured buddy programme in which participants support one another on relevant issues through various forms of exchange. The cross-university exchange of experiences amongst colleagues is intended to strengthen skills in the areas of inclusion and accessibility, make it easier to manage the diverse range of tasks, and provide a space for peer-to-peer consultation. Together, participants can reflect on experiences relating to topics such as disadvantage compensation, case work, accessible teaching and examinations, as well as collaboration with teaching staff and examination offices, and further develop approaches. The aim is to highlight best practices and share them across higher education institutions.

InkluBuddy sees itself not merely as a mentoring programme, but as a network for the exchange of expertise. Through collaboration between participants, the aim is to establish comparable quality standards for counselling, disadvantage compensation, and ensuring the accessibility of study programmes, teaching and examinations. In this way, the project contributes to the professionalisation of counselling and support structures at higher education institutions in North Rhine-Westphalia. To ensure that best practices and expertise can lead to shared quality standards in the long term, a modular Moodle self-study course is to be developed based on these very standards. This course will consolidate the collective knowledge on the various topics. In addition, the Moodle self-study course will provide a platform that universities can use in future for professional development programmes and certificate programmes in higher education pedagogy. In this way, the insights gained from the Buddy Programme will remain usable even beyond the project’s duration.

Are you interested in networking or taking part in InkluBuddy? Please feel free to contact us at zab@uni-bielefeld.de. The project thrives on the active participation of coordinators and advisers who wish to share their knowledge, as well as (new) colleagues and interested teaching staff who wish to develop their skills in the field of inclusion and accessibility. By sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences and tackling challenges together, we can create an inclusive university. InkluBuddy aims to establish a sustainable network to this end, one that strengthens collaboration and further develops the quality of counselling and teaching at universities in the long term.

The project is one of two funded projects by the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education Teaching at Bielefeld University. More information on the funding is available here.

Online information session "Applying for jobs with a disability and a chronic illness"

2026-07-09T09:12:08+02:00

Are you wondering how you can successfully start your career with a disability? Are you unsure whether you should mention your chronic illness during the application process? Are you wondering how to find suitable employers who can accommodate your personal needs?

On 13 July 2026, from 11:00 to 12:00, the Accessibility Services (ZAB) are organising an online information session entitled "Applying for jobs with a disability and a chronic illness". Our guest, Abdel Hafid Sarkissian from the Inclusive Experts Network (iXNet), will answer these and other questions and offer tips on how to manage your disability or chronic illness during the application process. There will be plenty of time afterwards for individual questions.

iXNet empowers and supports academics with disabilities through information sessions and personalised career planning advice. iXNet is a digital service provided by the Federal Employment Agency’s employer service for academics with disabilities.

To attend the event, you must register by 10 July 2026 by emailing zab-gruppen@uni-bielefeld.de. The event will be held in German. We ask that you let us know your individual needs as early as possible.

Accessible PhD at Doctoral Researchers’ Day

2026-07-02T09:51:41+02:00

On 8 July from 11.45 am to 1.15 pm, the Accessibility Services (ZAB) will be holding an information session as part of Doctoral Researchers’ Day on the topic of making doctoral studies accessible in researching, teaching and participating ("Promotion barrierefrei gestalten – forschen, lehren, teilhaben" (DE)).

The event is aimed at anyone planning to undertake a PhD or currently studying for one, and who is interested in issues relating to disability, chronic or mental illness, and accessibility in a higher education context. The session will cover support services, funding opportunities, the legal framework and ideas for accessible teaching.

Registration is required for the event. It will take place in German in room A3-118 in the university main building and is open to anyone interested, both within and outside Bielefeld University.

In addition, the Doctoral Researchers’ Day offers further exciting insights, practical information and a wide range of opportunities to exchange ideas with doctoral candidates and prospective doctoral candidates from various faculties. Most of the programme items will be held in English.

Today: Film Forum Accessibility "Jenseits der Stille" with panel talk

2026-06-25T09:18:49+02:00

The Bielefeld arthouse cinema Lichtwerk and Bielefeld University's Accessibility Services (ZAB) invite you to a screening of "Jenseits der Stille" at the Lichtwerk today (25 June 2026) at 6 p.m. as part of the ZAB – Forum Accessibility.

The film will be followed by a talk with Heiko Burak and Jonas Karpa. Together they will talk about deafness, the portrayal of disability in the film and the experiences of children of deaf parents.

Heiko Burak is a sign language teacher and co-founder of the association "Gebärdenbrücke - Förderverein Deutsche Gebärdensprache e.V.". In his work, he combines education, inclusion and practical application to build bridges between the hearing and deaf worlds. Jonas Karpa is a media and musicologist and works on inclusion, diversity and the portrayal of disability in the media. As Chairman of the Board of "Vielfalt im Film e.V.", he is committed to more diversity in front of and behind the camera.

The discussion will be accompanied by sign language interpreters and automatic transcription. The film will be shown in German with German subtitles.

Admission is 5 euros. Tickets can be purchased directly via the Lichtwerk website or at the cinema box office.

About the film: Lara grows up as a hearing child of deaf parents and mediates between two worlds - the world of silence and the world of sound. When she discovers her passion for music, she dreams of studying music. Can she reconcile her dream with her family?

Glossary covering the topics of disability, inclusion, participation and (digital) accessibility

2026-06-18T11:04:59+02:00

As part of the completed DACHS (Digital Accessibility CHecking and Simulation) project run by the Accessibility Services (ZAB), a glossary has been compiled containing German terms relating to disability, inclusion, participation and (digital) accessibility. The entries are of particular importance in the higher education context.

The glossary aims to establish a common understanding of terminology and to support professional engagement with these topics. The terms explained originate from various fields, including social sciences and law, disability studies, education, higher education development, and information and communication technologies.

The definitions are based on current academic, legal and practical discourses, in particular on human rights-based approaches such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the German code of social law IX and international standards on digital accessibility. In this context, disability is not understood as an individual deficit, but is viewed in conjunction with social, structural and (digital) barriers.

The glossary is aimed at anyone concerned with inclusion, equal opportunities and accessibility. It is not intended as an exhaustive list, but rather as a continuously updated reference work and a guide, helping to foster precise and thoughtful discussion about disability and participation.

We will gradually be publishing explanations from the glossary on our Instagram channel as well. So it’s well worth following us!

In this context, we would also like to mention the ZAB Language Compass. This is a manually maintained tool that checks self-written texts for ableist language and suggests respectful and neutral alternatives.

Student workspaces with a low-stimulus environment and assistive technologies

2026-06-03T13:36:47+02:00

With the student workrooms, the Accessibility Services (ZAB) support independent study for students who are dependent on a particularly low-stimulus environment or assistive technologies. The workrooms offer a neutral environment outside the home for concentrated preparation and follow-up work on study content.

The Theresia Degener Room (UHG B1-241) is available to students who require a low-stimulus working environment. It is equipped with partitions to reduce noise and is intended exclusively for individual quiet work. There are four workstations available.

The Louis Braille Room (UHG B1-243) is equipped with assistive technologies and provides workstations for the blind and visually impaired. It can be used by students with corresponding needs and their assistants. There are five workstations available.

The two workspaces can be used daily from 8:00 to 22:00. Access is only possible with a token. Students with disabilities, chronic or mental illnesses can contact the ZAB at zab@uni-bielefeld.de if they are interested and arrange a personal meeting.

Film Forum Accessibility: "Jenseits der Stille" with panel talk

2026-05-28T11:03:07+02:00

The Bielefeld arthouse cinema Lichtwerk and Bielefeld University's Accessibility Services (ZAB) invite you to a screening of "Jenseits der Stille" at the Lichtwerk on 25 June 2026 at 6 p.m. as part of the ZAB – Forum Accessibility.

The film will be followed by a talk with Heiko Burak and Jonas Karpa. Together they will talk about deafness, the portrayal of disability in the film and the experiences of children of deaf parents.

Heiko Burak is a sign language teacher and co-founder of the association "Gebärdenbrücke - Förderverein Deutsche Gebärdensprache e.V.". In his work, he combines education, inclusion and practical application to build bridges between the hearing and deaf worlds. Jonas Karpa is a media and musicologist and works on inclusion, diversity and the portrayal of disability in the media. As Chairman of the Board of "Vielfalt im Film e.V.", he is committed to more diversity in front of and behind the camera.

The discussion will be accompanied by sign language interpreters and automatic transcription. The film will be shown in German with German subtitles.

Admission is 5 euros. Tickets can be purchased directly from Lichtwerk.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on 21 May

2026-05-21T10:00:18+02:00

Today marks the 15th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) - the worldwide day of action for accessibility.

GAAD draws attention to the importance of the accessibility to digital services. The aim of the day of action is to raise awareness of accessibility, increase awareness of digital inclusion and promote dialogue about the needs of more than one billion people with disabilities and chronic illnesses worldwide.

Digital accessibility refers to the ability of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses to use and interact with digital applications and content independently. Accessibility to websites, applications and digital services is a key prerequisite for equal participation in an increasingly digital society.

The Accessibility Services (ZAB) is therefore home to various digital accessibility services:

The Competence Centre for Accessible Digital University Administration.NRW, funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science (MKW), aims to ensure long-term accessibility in the administration of universities in NRW. To this end, accessibility tests are carried out and processes and solutions are developed to sustainably improve the accessibility of (web) applications, systems and software solutions.

The document service advises on accessibility and PDF/UA conformity for Microsoft Word documents and PDF documents. We offer support in the creation of accessible Microsoft Word documents, test PDF documents for PDF/UA conformity and create PDF/UA-compliant PDF documents from Microsoft Word documents.An overview of national and international events and campaigns within the framework of GAAD can be found on the official website.

Participation is a human right – Federal government plans cuts to participation benefits

2026-05-13T09:45:43+02:00

The German government is planning far-reaching cuts in integration assistance for people with disabilities and in child and youth welfare. This would affect those groups whose life situations are already particularly characterised by social inequality, an increased risk of poverty and limited opportunities for participation: People with disabilities, young people with a migration background, single parents and young adults who are dependent on child and youth welfare services. Cuts are also planned for family benefits.

The more than 70 ideas for cuts include, for example:

Significant cuts to the existing catalogue of integration assistance benefits, which would significantly worsen social participation opportunities for people with disabilities,
Restrictions on the right of choice in the selection of service providers, which would significantly impair the self-determination of people with disabilities in key areas of life, such as the choice of living arrangements,
a move away from individualised support services, which can make it difficult or impossible to provide tailored support,
additional financial burdens for universities and schools if services for participation in education in accordance with § 112 SGB IX are no longer provided to the current extent by the integration assistance organisations, but are transferred to the area of responsibility of universities and schools,
higher childcare costs for families and a possible increase in involuntary part-time work as a result of the postponement or restriction of the entitlement to all-day care for schoolchildren.

The planned cuts are far more than an administrative reorganisation of individual service areas to reduce costs. They are aimed directly at the structural conditions under which active social participation is made possible or limited. There are also considerable doubts about the compatibility of at least some of the proposed changes with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This political development is of central importance for universities. It not only has an impact on students, staff and university budgets, but also fundamentally raises the question of how seriously a democratic society actually takes its constitutional right to inclusion.

We would like to call for support for existing petitions and initiatives that oppose these cuts and advocate for the preservation of participation, self-determination and social security:

Petition 195716 to the German Bundestag: "Keine Kürzungen der Eingliederungshilfe für Menschen mit Behinderung"

Petition to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz: "Friedrich Merz, kürzen Sie nicht bei der Teilhabe! #TeilhabeIstKeinLuxus"

The Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe e. V. has launched the campaign "Teilhabe ist Menschenrecht".

The Deutsche Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband provides a detailed overview with legal categorisation and evaluation of selected proposals from the Federal Government for download.

Training programme: Communication without barriers – accessibility in university practice

2026-05-08T11:11:10+02:00

Digital accessibility is a central component of an inclusive university culture. The Competence Centre for Accessible Digital University Administration.NRW offers the training course Communication without Barriers: Accessibility in university practice. The training programme can be used by all university employees in NRW and is aimed at anyone who wants to make digital content and communication more accessible.

The training provides a practical insight into the basics of digital accessibility. The focus is on the question of how digital content and communication can be designed in such a way that they are accessible to all people.

Participants will learn, among other things,

how to recognise and avoid typical barriers in everyday working life,
the four principles of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG),
the basics of accessible design and accessible communication,
practical examples of how accessibility can be taken into account in everyday university life.

Take the opportunity to expand your expertise in the field of digital accessibility and make an active contribution to inclusive university practice.

Are you interested in this training for you and your team? Then contact the competence centre by e-mail and arrange a date for the training course.

Participation in the European Day of Protest for Equality of People with Disabilities

2026-04-30T09:11:03+02:00

The European Day of Protest for Equality for People with Disabilities will take place on 5 May 2026. There will also be various activities in Bielefeld on this day under the motto "Human rights are not negotiable" from 11 to 13:30 on Rathausplatz.

After a short welcome at 11 a.m., the demonstration through the city centre will start at 11:15. From 12:00, there will be a varied stage programme on the Rathausplatz with a sofa talk with Lord Mayor Dr Christiana Bauer and live music from the band MALUKA. Various Bielefeld organisations will also be offering information stands and activities.

The Accessibility Services (ZAB) will be representing Bielefeld University with an information stand. Various materials will be used to present the topic of accessibility at Bielefeld University and the voices of staff and students.

For many people with disabilities, structural discrimination and marginalisation are still everyday experiences. When people are excluded from society due to barriers, it is not only their mobility that is restricted, but also their participation. However, participation is not a luxury, but a human right that strengthens our cohesion and our democracy. This year's motto "Human rights are not negotiable" emphasises that human rights are universal. They apply regardless of physical, mental or psychological conditions.

The day of protest gives people with disabilities and their organisations a public voice. Through actions and dialogue, attention is drawn to grievances and concrete measures are demanded to establish equality and participation in society as a matter of course. At the same time, the day invites people to reflect on their own attitudes and become active.

NEOstaff Week Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) at Bielefeld University

2026-04-23T10:45:48+02:00

As part of the NEOLAiA network, the Accessibility Services (ZAB) is taking part in NEOstaff Week on the topic of "Diversity and Inclusion" together with the University Culture, Health and Diversity Department and the Gender Equality Office. In the week from 4 - 8 May 2026, around 30 people from various NEOLAiA partner universities will be guests at Bielefeld University and get to know the various facilities and services relating to diversity and inclusion.

Over two days, the ZAB will present its work and make the topic of inclusion at Bielefeld University visible. Among other things, the tasks of the Representative Council for Severely Disabled Employees and the services for students with disabilities will be presented. In an introduction to digital accessibility, the partners can share their experiences on the topic. The focus of the Staff Week is on the exchange between the partner universities and the identification of synergies.

Welcome (back) to the summer semester 2026

2026-04-16T12:40:27+02:00

The Accessibility Services (ZAB) welcomes all students (back) to the summer semester.

We offer a comprehensive range of counselling and support services for students with disabilities, chronic or mental illnesses. An overview with lots of important information about studying with a disability, chronic or mental illness in Bielefeld can be found on the ZAB student portal. Our ZAB student counselling service can be reached at zab@uni-bielefeld.de.

This semester, we are also offering the peer network "AccessAbility" for the first time. Interested students can register for this until 19 April 2026.

On our Instagram account "zab.unibielefeld" we publish weekly posts on various topics. These include current offers and event information as well as insights into various ZAB groups and projects ending dates.

Launch of the AccessAbility – Peer Network in the summer semester 2026

2026-04-09T10:14:56+02:00

In the summer semester 2026, the new peer network of the Accessibility Services (ZAB) will help students with disabilities, chronic or mental illnesses to get off to a good start in everyday student life at Bielefeld University. Within the network, students can get to know other students in a similar life situation, network, exchange experiences during their studies and expand their skills in moderated formats for one semester. Experienced students are available as mentors to answer individual questions.

As an open and inclusive community, the peer network strengthens mutual learning and solidarity and support among students. The aim is to support each other in campus life, taking into account individual needs and thus promoting long-term academic success. Students can expect a varied programme of information and exchange events (e.g. information events on disadvantage compensation and games evenings).

Registration as a mentee is still possible until 19 April 2026. Experienced students can register as mentors until 15 April 2026.

Note: From the summer semester 2026, the peer network will replace the previous peer mentoring programme. As a result, the formation of tandems consisting of a mentee and a mentor will be discontinued. No counselling is offered as part of the peer network. If necessary, we will refer you to the appropriate counselling centre.

More information, contact details and the application form can be found on the website.

We look forward to many registrations!

Training course "Accessible documents in Microsoft Excel" on 15.04.2026

2026-03-19T09:51:34+01:00

Editing and creating Excel files is an integral part of everyday administrative work. However, many Excel documents are often not barrier-free and therefore not accessible to all staff.

For this reason, the Competence Centre for Accessible Digital University Administration.NRW is organising an online training course on "Accessible documents in Microsoft Excel" on 15 April 2026 from 10:00 to 11:30. The consultant for the training is Martin König from the German Centre for Accessible Reading (dzb lesen). The training course is held in German.

In the training course, participants will learn how to create accessible spreadsheet documents in Microsoft Excel. Individual work steps and testing tools will be demonstrated.Participants can then ask their individual questions.

All university employees in NRW can participate free of charge. Registration is possible via the Zoom registration link. If you have any questions, please contact the competence centre by email.

A reason to celebrate - publication of the DACHS portal

2026-03-12T12:43:10+01:00

After a project duration of three years, the interactive portal DACHS (Digital Accessibility CHecking and Simulation) is finally going online.

Teaching staff now have access to comprehensive information on designing accessible teaching. In addition to demonstrating selected barriers that can arise when using digital materials in connection with various impairments, DACHS offers prepared knowledge about studying with impairments, chronic and mental illness. Instructions and implementation aids are provided to give teaching staff a low-threshold introduction to designing accessible courses. In the "Testing" section, teaching staff can also carry out demanding tests of their LMS courses independently - both automatically and manually.

In the coming weeks, all teaching staff at Bielefeld University will receive the brochure "Barrierefreie Lehre gestalten" in the post. It summarises all relevant information about the interactive DACHS portal.

Further information on DACHS

Rare Disease Day on 28 February

2026-02-26T11:11:36+01:00

28 February is International Rare Disease Day. It aims to raise awareness of the 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease and to bring about change for those affected, their families and carers.

People living with rare diseases often face particular challenges and obstacles. The lack of scientific knowledge and reliable information about these diseases often leads to delays in diagnosis. In addition, the need for specialised, high-quality healthcare makes equal access to treatment and care more difficult. Due to the wide variety of rare diseases and the fact that many symptoms initially appear unspecific, misdiagnosis is also common.

The long-term goal of the Rare Disease Day campaign is to ensure equal access to diagnosis, treatment, healthcare, social support and opportunities for all those affected by rare diseases.

The Accessibility Services (ZAB) supports the campaign to raise awareness of rare diseases and sensitise people to the needs of those affected. We support members of Bielefeld University with disability-related challenges and are committed to the visibility of all people with a disability or chronic illness in the university context.

Source: https://www.rarediseaseday.org/what-is-a-rare-disease/

Storage options for equipment on campus

2026-02-19T10:19:54+01:00

The Accessibility Services (ZAB) provide students with disabilities or chronic illnesses with 20 lockers on campus for the storage of disability-related equipment or to facilitate their studies. Ten lockers are located in the UHG and ten in the X building.

Students who fulfil the usage authorisation can use the lockers if there is sufficient capacity, e.g. for storing aids or learning materials. An enquiry can be sent to zab@uni-bielefeld.de to clarify usage authorisation.

Note: It is not permitted to pass on access to the locker or to use the locker for any other purpose. The lockers are used exclusively to fulfil disability-related storage requirements in everyday student life. There is a limited contingent of lockers. Students have no legal claim to the provision of a locker. The ZAB accepts no liability for items stored in the locker.

ZAB offers during the lecture-free period in the winter semester 2025/26

2026-02-13T14:38:06+01:00

The Accessibility Services (ZAB) will continue to be available during the lecture-free period of the winter semester 2025/26.

We support prospective students and students from the start of their studies to doctoral studies with all questions relating to studying with a disability, chronic or mental illness. Information on our counselling services, on studying, on support for participation in studies and on student financing can be found on the ZAB student portal.

Our counselling services and student workspaces with stimulus-reduced working environments or assistive technologies can be used as usual during the lecture-free period.

The UniMaps app is also available as usual and enables barrier-free navigation on campus, even during the lecture-free period.

We wish all students good luck with their exams and a great summer break!

"Inclusive University NRW" funding programme extended until the end of 2028

2026-02-05T09:53:38+01:00

The Ministry of Culture and Science (MKW NRW) is extending the "Inclusive University NRW" funding programme for a further two years. The universities and universities of applied sciences under state sponsorship as well as the state art and music universities in North Rhine-Westphalia will continue to have around 3.3 million euros per year at their disposal until the end of 2028.

The funding from the programme can be used flexibly by the universities to support students with disabilities or chronic illnesses as required, in particular for personnel, tools, services, materials and equipment. The state is thus committed to equal opportunities and accessibility in the North Rhine-Westphalian higher education landscape.

The funding programme has been running very successfully since 2020. The funds made available have been used to support numerous measures to date. In October 2025, the new website of the funding programme was presented at the annual presence event of the network of the Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Studium und Behinderung NRW (LAG SB NRW). The website was designed and implemented by ZAB - Accessibility Services of Bielefeld University. It makes the impact of the funding programme visible by presenting over 97 measures that have been implemented with the funding.

Further information on the extension of the funding programme on the MKW NRW website