🧑‍⚖️ Principles from the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD)

“Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”
(Article 1 of the UN-CRPD)
“No person shall be disfavored because of disability.”
(Article 3 subsection 3 sentence 2 of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany)

📜 Integration in higher education laws
The principles of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany and the UN-CRPD are reflected in a range of legal frameworks:

  • The State Law on Equality for Disabled Persons (LGGBehM RLP)
  • (section 2 subsection 3: Accessibility & Equal Participation)
  • Framework Act for Higher Education (HRG)
  • (section 2 subsection 4: Equal Opportunities for Students with Disabilities)
  • The Higher Education Act of Rhineland-Palatinate (HochSchG RLP)
  • specifies key rights and duties within the higher-education context:

🏛️ Responsibilities of higher education institutions (section 2 subsection 4 of the Higher Education Act of Rhineland-Palatinate (HochSchG RLP))
Higher education institutions are required to ensure that students with disabilities:

  • can participate equally in their studies, and
  • can use university services as independently and accessibly as possible, in accordance with the State Law on Equality for Disabled Persons (LGGBehM RLP).

📝 Disadvantage compensation for examinations (section 26 of the Higher Education Act of Rhineland-Palatinate (HochSchG RLP))

  • Examination regulations must take the specific needs of students with disabilities into account to ensure equal opportunities. (section 4)
  • Extensions or interruptions of study periods due to disability or illness may not be counted against deadlines to the student’s disadvantage. (section 5)

👩‍💼 Representative for Students with Disabilities (section 72 subsection 7 of the Higher Education Act of Rhineland-Palatinate (HochSchG RLP))

  • The senate of the higher education institution appoints a representative to a three-year term to address the concerns of students with disabilities.
  • The representative’s task: Support the higher education institution in fulfilling its obligations under section 2 subsection 4.