Law, policy and data

By ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), Germany has committed itself to comprehensively realizing the participation of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. This continues the paradigm shift already initiated several years ago: away from welfare - toward genuine participation.

The right to inclusive education, including inclusive higher education, is one of the central demands of this international convention. Nationally, too, the right to equal opportunity participation of people with disabilities in higher education is enshrined in law in many ways: for example, in the Higher Education Framework Act as well as in the state higher education acts (see also Law).

Data surveys such as the social survey or the survey "impaired studying" show to what extent the right to inclusive higher education has been implemented and in which areas there is a need for action (see also Facts and Figures).

The Länder have a wide range of options for promoting inclusive higher education. Be it through the design of the legal framework, the use of the instruments of higher education governance or direct funding of projects or networks for an inclusive university.