Accessibility services (ZAB)

19.12.2025 - ZAB annual review 2025

11.12.2025 - Training on accessibility in IT procurement

03.12.2025 - The ZAB Language Compass for recognising ableist language is here!

27.11.2025 - SHUFFLE at Bi.teach 2025: self-study courses for the staff development programme

13.11.2025 - New handouts available: Accessibility in Procurement

Information for students

The portal informs students and prospective students with disabilities or chronic illnesses about counselling and support services. The portal presents services such as disadvantage compensation, barrier-free workspaces, technical aids and peer mentoring.

More about the information portal for students

Information for employees

The portal informs employees and applicants about accessible and inclusive working conditions at Bielefeld University. Support is offered on topics such as job applications, workplace adaptation and digital and structural accessibility.

More about the information portal for employees

Team

A diverse team supports you with questions about barrier-free studying and working at Bielefeld University. With expertise in diversity development in the university context, digital accessibility and studying and working with a disability or chronic illness, we help to break down barriers.

More about the ZAB team

Veranstaltungen

Die ZAB organisiert regelmäßig Veranstaltungen zum Thema Barrierefreiheit. Dazu gehören Workshops, Vorträge und Formate zum Austausch rund um inklusives und barrierefreies Arbeiten und Lernen.

Mehr über die Veranstaltungen der ZAB

Language compass

The Language Compass checks German texts for potentially derogatory wording. If the tool recognises discriminatory or derogatory language towards people with disabilities or illnesses, it points this out. It then suggests suitable, respectful and inclusive alternatives.

Find out more about the ZAB's language compass

Instagram

The ZAB shares news, interviews, projects, events, links and tips on digital accessibility via Instagram. In addition, the ZAB publishes photos, drawings and text-image combinations relating to disability, university and accessibility.

Visit ZAB's Instagram profile (opens in new tab)

Why is accessibility important?

Accessibility is not just a concept for people with disabilities, but for people of all ages, with and without disabilities. Everyone benefits from accessibility.

Accessibility is essential for 10% of people in order to actively participate in life. This applies in particular to blind, visually impaired or deaf people. But many other people are also dependent on it.

Accessibility is necessary for 30 to 40% of people to enable permanent active participation. This applies to all people with an impairment, disability or chronic illness. Whether it is good contrasts in the digital or in the environment or different possibilities to perceive something according to the two-senses principle.

Accessibility is at least comfortable for 100% of people. A lift, for example, is essential for people in wheelchairs, necessary for people with a mobility impairment and convenient for everyone else, whether they have luggage, a pushchair or simply find it difficult to get up the stairs.

UniMaps: Barrier-free campus navigation

UniMaps is an app for barrier-free navigation on the campus of Bielefeld University. It offers functions such as stair-free route planning, room and staff search as well as practical information such as university canteens and timetables. UniMaps helps you find your way around the campus easily and in an orientated manner.

More about campus navigation app Unimaps

Barrier-free campus

The Barrier-free Campus website presents offers for barrier-free campus life at Bielefeld University. The website provides information about accessible facilities and services such as rooms, pathways, the university canteen, sports and the library.

More about the ZAB Barrier-free Campus