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Barrier-free studies  Advice, information and networking

The "barrier-free" contact point is the first point of contact for questions regarding accessibility for students with an impairment. It is also available free of charge to students regardless of programme, and all University employees.

The "barrier-free" contact point provides bespoke advice and support for students with an impairment. It acts on request. When asked to act, it involves all the relevant University staff and advises them in all matters concerning the provision of equal opportunities for students with an impairment.

The "barrier-free" contact point can help with the preparation of disadvantage compensation requests. It advises heads of programmes on the provision of compensatory measures and assists with the provision of adequate implementation.

It is also available for general questions on accessibility. It advocates 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.

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The disadvantage compensation ensures equal opportunities for successful studies free of discrimination for students with and without impairments. All students must be given the chance to acquire and display the same skills, and equal admission conditions must apply to them.
Supportive measures are taken through adaptations to the study or examination settings and/or to the related infrastructure.

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 must file a formal request in writing for disadvantage compensation with proof of the bodily impairment with the head of programme responsible. The proof may consist of a detailed medical report or of a statement from a qualified specialist body.

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

Implementation takes place in collaboration with all persons involved, depending on the situation and is the responsibility of the head of the programme. The "barrier‐free" contact point can provide advice and support for the implementation. The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts guarantees confidentiality to students involved in the process.

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