Studying is full of barriers for disabled and chronically ill students. In order to overcome these existing hurdles, there may be a legal entitlement to compensation for disadvantages - especially when it comes to exam-related matters. However, not every individual case fulfils all conditions, which is why you should inform yourself precisely and early enough to avoid any unpleasant surprises during your studies.

Table of contents

1. 1. Applying for compensation for disadvantages
   2. Legal framework conditions
   3. Requirements at the Technical University of Dresden

Applying for compensation for disadvantages

In most cases, the responsible examination office or the Commissioners for Students with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses are their first contact points. If you present your situation there early on, you can be assisted in time to provide the correct information for your application for compensation for disadvantages. Depending on the limitation or handicap, you may be required to provide evidence (e.g. a doctor's certificate) with your application. In addition, the type and scope of compensation must be described in detail in the application. It is important:

• Find out about the individual circumstances of your field of study before the counselling interview (e.g. by reading the relevant examination regulations). Some questions may already be clarified in advance.
• Come to a consultation with your commissioner as soon as possible. They will only be able to help you properly if there is enough time. Ideally, you should contact them at the beginning of a semester when you know which courses you will be attending and where any examinations may have to be taken.

Each case is individual. If you would like to know whether a compensation for disadvantages is possible in your situation, we would be happy to invite you to a personal consultation with one of our commissioners. Please contact Mrs. Mandy Weickert with rough information about your individual situation and make an appointment.

Legal framework conditions

The basis for the right to appropriate compensation for the disadvantages of disabled and chronically ill students is the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany. This is regulated by the principle of equality and the prohibition of discrimination for disabled persons in Article 3 and the welfare state principle in Article 20. According to the Saxon Freedom of Higher Education Act, the universities of the Free State have the task, among other things, of ensuring "that students with disabilities or chronic illness are not disadvantaged in their studies and that they can take advantage of the services offered by the university without outside help if possible" (§5,2 in German).

The biggest problem for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses are academic records. These are regulated, for example, in the Model Framework Regulations for Diploma Examination Regulations - Universities and Equivalent Universities of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs. Paragraph 5 Article 2 states that a person to be examined can provide proof of performance in an extended examination period or an equivalent examination in another form, provided that they can credibly demonstrate or substantiate disadvantages in taking the originally scheduled examinations.

In Part 3 " Special Provisions for the Participation of Severely Disabled Persons (Severely Disabled Persons Act) " of the Federal Participation Act, the design of the provisions for the compensation of disadvantages is determined in such a way that "they take into account the type or severity of the disability, irrespective of the cause of the disability" (§209). And the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was ratified by Germany in 2009, expressly calls for and promotes the participation of disabled people in education.

Requirements at the Technical University of Dresden

The TU Dresden has committed itself to contribute to the social advancement of students and to consider the special needs of students with disabilities and chronic diseases. Thus, equal participation is currently organised through the action plan for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These activities are reinforced by the quality goals of the TU Dresden, which state in Section 8.2, among other things: "Students have the opportunity to compensate for the disadvantages arising from causes for which they are not responsible by taking appropriate measures. Disadvantage compensation regulations, especially with regard to admission requirements, selection procedures, credit rules and examination requirements, are documented, transparent and a daily individual practice".

This philosophy of diversity is also reflected in the teaching guidelines. Our focus is on the diversity of teachers and students at the TU Dresden, which for its part "tries in particular to take into account the different requirements and lifestyles of families, disabled people, foreign teachers and students". The current model examination regulations of the TU Dresden, to which the individual examination regulations of the individual faculties are to be geared, also provide for compensation for disadvantages for students with credible disability or chronic illness. It is up to the respective examination board to decide on which measures to compensate for disadvantages. Suitable measures could be, for example, extended examination durations, breaks, use of other media, use of other examination rooms within the university or a different examination date.

Nevertheless, the principle of voluntariness and independence applies first and foremost: Those affected at the TU must make sure that they register in good time the need for a solution to their individual problem situation. Only under these circumstances can timely support and an adjustment of study conditions be implemented. In addition to the representatives, the main contact persons are the responsible university lecturers. For more specific questions, the respective examination board, deans of studies or the senate commission in diversity as well as the Prorector for Education should be contacted if necessary.