Overcoming Hurdles

According to a survey by the German Student Union, some 15 percent of German students have a disability or are chronically ill. In addition to attending lectures, making photocopies and taking coffee breaks, students with disabilities also need to deal with a lot of administrative paperwork. Getting appropriate hearing aids, reading devices for the blind or transportation services for wheelchair users often necessitates an elaborate application process.

"There is a large number of assistance options that are relatively independent of the kind of handicap," said Dr. Maike Gattermann-Kasper, who advises handicapped and chronically ill students at the University of Hamburg and helps them with their paperwork.

"Many students need special examination conditions. We advise them and discuss how their special cases can be accommodated. Things don't depend only on the handicap itself, but also on the requirements in the given subject or course of study," she said.

Comparing notes

There are around 20 deaf and numerous hearing-impaired students at the University of Hamburg.

Some of them had never come into contact with other people with disabilities before coming to college.

"Only at the university did I actually meet other hearing-impaired students," said Zoe, a hearing-impaired student at the University of Hamburg who had previously attended a regular high school.

"I actually didn't have any contact with other hearing-impaired people before. I didn't think that was so bad at the time, but now I think it's really nice being able to compare notes with others," she said.

Overcoming the disability

Deaf-mute or hearing-impaired students at the University of Hamburg have interpreters who translate lectures and seminars into sign language. Additionally, students can request the service of a typist who can compile lecture notes for them or they can use special audio devices.

"I use an FM device in my studies," Zoe said. "FM stands for frequency modulation. It's similar to a cell phone. It has a transmitter, which is like a microphone that emits acoustic signals, or what is being said, to the hearing aid."

Even though the system functions well, other students often forget to pass the microphone or the professor forgets to use one. Handicapped students are often reluctant to remind their colleagues or their teachers about the microphones, which sometimes means they cannot follow discussions.

Challenging examinations

Disabilities are a particular challenge during examinations, even though students are given extensions for their exams or allowed to take them in separate rooms.

"I didn't have to take any oral examination until now," said Anna, another hearing-impaired student, who is now preparing for her state examination in special education. "My first oral will be a part of the state examination, and, in this case, I can ask for a quiet room, for instance."

Many students, like Anna, say that they are torn between not wanting to be treated as handicapped all the time and, on the other hand, often wishing that those around them were a little more mindful of their situation.

"That's why I like horse-back riding," Anna said. "When I go riding, my hearing impediment or my disability are not in the foreground. The main topic is the horse. And the disability plays no role at all."