Uniability hat heute eine Rückmeldung zum Sondierungsverfahren der Europäischen Kommission zur Einführung des Europäischen Behindertenausweises übermittelt:
Students and teachers with disabilities are among the most underrepresented groups in ERASMUS+ and other mobility programs. Although the mobility programs often offer extensive financial support to compensate for disability-related additional expenses, problems often arise in accessing services in the destination country – such as personal assistance – because the responsible organizations restrict their services to holders of disability certificates from their own country. A period of residence of several months or years in the respective country is usually required to obtain these documents. Furthermore, the regulations regarding which impairment at a university qualifies for the use of services and compensation for disadvantages also differ from country to country and are dependent on proof from one’s own country, so that disadvantages for incoming students can also arise here – especially in the case of invisible disabilities. These hurdles often prevent persons with disabilities from participating in mobility programs or limit their choices to a few locations in the European Higher Education Area and mean a clear disadvantage compared to students and teachers without disabilities.
The European disability card would significantly improve equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in their studies as well as regarding academic careers, for which international experience is usually a prerequisite.