Accessibility for everyone is a desirable, yet challenging, goal. Let us look at RUB’s efforts to promote accessibility and highlight some challenges in achieving this aim.

Accessible Support Services at RUB

The Akademisches Förderungswerk (AKAFÖ) offers a range of support services for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses, aiming to help them navigate university life more easily. Whether accessing social welfare benefits for special life situations, receiving assistance related to disabilities, or getting help with integration services under the Federal Participation Act (BTHG), AKAFÖ is there to guide you.

If you’re looking for advice on daily care and assistance, AKAFÖ provides individual consultations. They can also help you apply for state blindness allowances and offer guidance for caregivers. Financial matters are also covered, whether you need advice on study and doctoral funding, dealing with hardship provisions in your university application, or understanding study and exam regulations. For blind and visually impaired students, there’s a reader service available, and AKAFÖ can try to assist you in finding accessible accommodation.

AKAFÖ offers useful information about transportation services for people with disabilities, care services, and accessible vacation and travel options. They also help students with disabilities find internships and provide advice on learning preparation and study abroad opportunities. If you need to take a break from your studies, they can guide you in applying for a leave of absence or sick semesters.

When it comes to life after university, AKAFÖ assists with job searches and applications. They can also help with work-related issues like health insurance and work assistance, ensuring students have the necessary resources to transition into the workforce. Overall, AKAFÖ is dedicated to making sure that students with disabilities or chronic illnesses have the support they need to succeed in their studies. The BZI (Counseling Center for the Inclusion of Disabled Students), located on campus and operated by AKAFÖ, provides computers with reading and input aids, a braille printer, and support for lecturers to supply appropriate materials for students in need. The center is also available to provide concrete information if you require assistance. For more details, visit this page.

Addressing Accessibility Challenges

While AKAFÖ is committed to improving accessibility, particularly on their website, there are still areas where the content is not fully accessible to everyone. Some material isn’t fully usable for people with visual impairments, and video content can be challenging for those with hearing or vision impairments. Colorblind users may struggle to identify certain elements, and the text contrast on some pages might not be strong enough for everyone to read easily.

Another issue is that certain key elements of the website aren’t always accessible through keyboard navigation, which can be problematic for users relying on assistive technologies. PDF documents and forms, in particular, may not always be available in accessible formats. However, AKAFÖ is working to provide more accessible versions of these documents and forms as quickly as possible. If you need a specific PDF or form and can’t access it, you can reach out to them at feedback@akafoe.de, specify the format you need, and they’ll ensure you receive it via email or post.

A Place to Share and Connect: The Storytelling Café

For students and staff with visible or invisible disabilities, the Storytelling Café offers a wonderful opportunity to connect and share experiences. Organized by BZI in collaboration with RUB, the café is open to students, doctoral candidates, and employees at Bochum universities who have chronic illnesses or disabilities, such as learning disabilities, mobility impairments, mental health conditions, and sensory impairments.

In the summer semester of 2024, the Storytelling Café will be held in person, providing a welcoming and relaxed space for discussing personal, academic, or work-related topics. It’s a chance to share your experiences in a supportive environment. If you’re interested in joining, you can contact Ms. Anja Batram at anja.batram@rub.de for more information. For specific questions about accessibility, Michaela Kusal is available at kusal@akafoe.de.

:Jenefer Selvarajah