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Barrier-free studies  Advice, information and networks

The "barrier-free" contact point is the first port of  call for students with an impairment and questions about accessibility. It is available free of charge to all university employees and students across all programmes.

The "barrier-free" contact point provides bespoke advice and support for students with an impairment. It provides its services upon request and in collaboration with all relevant actors within the university. It advises members of the university in all matters concerning the provision of equal opportunities to students with an impairment.

The "barrier-free" contact point can help with the preparation of a request for disadvantage compensation. It advises heads of programme on the provision of compensatory measures and assists with their adequate implementation.

The service is also available for general questions about accessibility. It advocates for an obstacle-free university experience for students with an impairment.

The experts at the "barrier-free" contact point are all lecturers from the Competence Centre for Disability and Quality of Life, an institution of the Lucerne School of Social Work.

Disadvantage compensation

Disadvantage compensation ensures equal opportunities for successful and discrimination-free studies for students with and without an impairment. All students must be given the chance to acquire and display the same skills and granted equal admission conditions.
Supportive measures typically take the form of adaptations to the study or examination setting and/or infrastructure.

Application period for disadvantage compensation for assignments and exams
Students requiring disadvantage compensation for assignments or exams are advised to apply early to ensure the timely implementation of measures. Please file your request for disadvantage compensation with your head of programme as early as possible.

The following application period applies for disadvantage compensation requests: to ensure timely provision of disadvantage compensation for assignments and exams, applications must be filed within the first third of the modules in question.

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The university’s approach to dealing with impairments and the right to disadvantage compensation are governed in the academic regulations which apply without exception to any and all education as well as continuing and executive education programmes.

Affected students are required to file a formal request (in writing) for disadvantage compensation with their head of programme. The request must include proof of the impairment, which may consist of a detailed medical report or statement from a qualified specialist body.

Students may consult their head of programme or the “barrier-free” contact point for prior advice and/or support in drafting their formal request for disadvantage compensation. At the student's request, the "barrier‐free" contact point can make a recommendation to the head of the programme.

The provision of disadvantage compensation is done on a case-by-case basis and is the head of programme’s responsibility. It is a collaborative effort between all parties involved and, if required, with the advice and support of the "barrier‐free" contact point. The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts guarantees confidentiality to the students involved in the process.

Fact sheets to promote barrier-free learning

Swissuniability, a joint project by the Studying and Disability Network Switzerland, published a series of fact sheets to raise awareness and support for accessible learning with different impairments on its website:

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Studying with AD(H)D
Studying with autism spectrum disorder
Studying with hearing impairments
Studying with dislexia
Studying with mobility impairments
Studying with mental disabilities
Studying with visual impairments

Merkblätter zur Erstellung barrierefreier Dokumente

Useful documents

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