We want to be a university for everyone, and that includes people with disabilities. But are we succeeding in this? What challenges do they face in their daily work? What services are available to them at our university to help them cope better? In the new edition of "In die Uni reingehört" (listening in on uni), the university's confidant for people with disabilities, Thomas Ring, talks with IT employee Matthias Scheer about the small and large obstacles in everyday working life, the state of accessibility on campus, and the fact that the assistance available addresses a larger target group than one might think.

Today's guest:

Thomas Ring has been an employee at the University of Magdeburg since 1996 and has been a member of the Representative Council for Severely Disabled Persons since 1999. At the end of 2021, he was elected as a representative for severely disabled persons, who promotes the integration of severely disabled persons in the company, represents their interests and provides them with advice and assistance.

Matthias Scheer completed his training as an IT specialist for systems integration at the university in 2017. Since then, he has been working as an IT specialist at the Institute for Mobile Systems and, together with his colleagues, is responsible for setting up, maintaining and servicing the communication infrastructure within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and its institutes.

 *the audio file is only available in German

The podcast to read

Introstimme: "In die Uni reingehört" (listening in on uni). The podcast on the world of work, at OVGU.

Catherine Birke: Coffee or tea?

Thomas Ring: Coffee.

Catherine Birke: Mr. Scheer, you?

Matthias Scheer: Coffee.

Catherine Birke: Coffee. So we're all team coffee. Awesome. Your favorite place at the university. Maybe you, Mr. Scheer?

Matthias Scheer: Yes, this is the pavilion here in front of building 18 and building 10.

Thomas Ring: In my case, the cafeteria or the terrace at building 30.

Catherine Birke: And then lastly, three words that come to mind when you think of the university. Mr. Ring, maybe you first?

Thomas Ring: Diversity, good career opportunities and openness.

Matthias Scheer: Rabbits, the Campus Tower, and the club "Baracke".

Catherine Birke: The rabbits, we often see them hopping out here.

Matthias Scheer: I get them every morning, when I come by car, they hop around in front of my car. They always greet me.

Catherine Birke: They are sort of our mascots here on campus.

Matthias Scheer: Exactly.

Intro voice: "In die Uni reingehört" (listening in on uni). The podcast on the world of work at OVGU.

Catherine Birch: When I get to work in the morning, I naturally take the stairs, struggle with the fire door in the hallway as I balance my coffee cup and cereal bowl to the office, and quickly read the nameplates on other offices as I pass them. Everyday things that seem natural. But what would that look like if you had a disability? What about inclusion at the university? What challenges do people with disabilities face in their everyday working lives and what services does the university offer to make everyone feel comfortable here?

My name is Catherine Birke, I am the trainee of the press office, and today I am talking to the representative of severely disabled persons at the university, Thomas Ring, and IT employee at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Matthias Scheer, about what it is like to work with a disability at our university and what services and assistance the university offers.

I know from my personal life that it can be very difficult to find a job with a disability. What was it like for you, Mr. Scheer?

Matthias Scheer: It wasn't easy at all. At the beginning, after my first training as an office administrator, I wrote a lot of applications and sometimes got no feedback. And when you did get feedback, it was: "Thank you very much for your application, but unfortunately we don't have a suitable position for you in the company." That went on many times and then I thought, okay, now you leave out the reference that you are disabled in your application and do it like this. In some cases I was invited to interviews in response to the applications, and yes, that's usually what happened, because it turned out that the location was either not suitable for people with disabilities or they said afterwards, "Yes, we're sorry, but there's nothing suitable. We wish you all the best for the future." Yes, and then, after I had gone through several programs of the employment office, I did an internship here at the university, in the computer center, and then applied for the apprenticeship here at the university, went through with it, passed, and was then hired for a year. Meanwhile, I'm employed at the university for an unlimited period. So I was lucky on the second try and I am very satisfied.

Catherine Birke: There have also been some structural changes here on campus in recent years to improve accessibility as well. You had already mentioned that, Mr. Scheer, how easy is it for you to get to your workplace?

Matthias Scheer: It's relatively easy for me to get to work, because I have my own car - if it's not broken down, well, then I have the understanding of my colleagues and work from home. And in winter it is difficult. Especially when there's a lot of snow or ice, then unfortunately I can't make it either. Then I can't even get out the front door, but everyone is so understanding and they say just work from home.

Catherine Birke: How do you get to your workplace? You can paint a picture for the audience and describe it very briefly: You get in your car, drive to our campus, park and then?

Thomas Scheer: Then I go to the central entrance of building 10, that's where the handicapped elevator is. And then I go to the punch clock as normal, punch in and then into the office.

Catherine Birke: What are your biggest challenges in everyday life at the university?

Matthias Scheer: My biggest challenges in everyday life at the university are, on the one hand, ramps that are too low, doors that are sometimes difficult to open and, on the other hand, when closing the new locking cylinders. Some locks are relatively difficult to turn. I can't manage that. Every now and then I ask a colleague, "Can you open the door for me, please?" But other than that, that's really it.

Catherine Birke: Could you elaborate a bit more on the low ramps or explain a bit more? Because I can't picture that right now.

Matthias Scheer: Across from building 10, Hall 11/1 should be there, the one on the right. There is a small ramp at the front entrance, but the ramp is too low relative to the doorway. There's another step of about, I would say, seven to eight centimeters, and I can't really get over it by myself.

Catherine Birke: So, the threshold into the building, so to speak, is still too high.

Matthias Scheer: Exactly, it's too high.

Catherine Birke: Okay.

Matthias Scheer: But there are also buildings that I can't get to, for example, because there are no elevators and there are only stairs inside the building. That would be, for example, the chair for IMS- EMA, I can't get there at all. If there is anything going on over there, I always have to ask my colleagues. Or the way is also quite long. There are no parking spaces like over at the IWF. My colleagues take care of that, too.

Catherine Birke: What might be done in the future, we'll come back to that later. We want to be a university for everyone. That also means inclusion. In 2021, an inclusion agreement was reached on the integration, training, and employment of people with disabilities. Why do we need something like that?

Thomas Ring: For example with applications of handicapped persons, who are invited in principle and are not excluded from the outset – as they previously may have been – so that the employer commits to taking into consideration persons with a handicap, at least in principle.

Catherine Birke: What does this inclusion agreement include? How should I think about it? Are there certain measures that are taken to integrate people with disabilities into everyday working life?

Thomas Ring: I have it on me. It is a multi-page document, which is of course not easy to sum up now. It is relatively extensive, it deals with workplace equipment, recruitment procedures, appointment procedures, everything is included there.

Catherine Birke: Mr. Ring, can you give a brief summary of what has already been adapted to accessibility at the university? I can imagine that people who are not dependent on this are less likely to notice it.

Thomas Ring: I can do that. Accessibility is a continuous process that has to be considered here at the university with every construction measure. Department K4 has direct instructions for this. There are direct regulations as to what has to be done in future or current construction measures. This can be seen at the moment in the brand-new building 23, which is also a big problem for him, because there is a staircase of seven or eight steps in the building. The access to the building in the first place. At the moment, a handicapped elevator is being installed, which, however, is only intended for the first floor for the time being. I can't say at the moment what the next step will be. But there are plans for that.

There are also future construction measures. There is currently a plan for what the entire campus will look like in the future. But that is only in the planning stage, not yet a concrete project. Otherwise, we are striving to make all buildings accessible in some way. Of course, there are still buildings that have no barrier-free access at all. I'm thinking of buildings 14 and 15, or buildings that are only partially accessible, such as the ICOM building, building 13, but I don't think it's necessary to make the entire building accessible because in certain areas, it really has to be said, people in wheelchairs probably won't be able to work if they have to reach switch cabinets or similar equipment. That's why my opinion is that you could also make cutbacks there. Otherwise, we are striving to make barrier-free access for every building. Good examples...

Matthias Scheer: I would say IFQ.

Thomas Ring: Yes, building 12 is one of the last things that was done. A ramp has been installed so that wheelchair users can enter the building by ramp. And a new elevator has been installed in the building. Building 6 at the front, where the personnel administration K3 is located, can also be reached barrier-free by wheelchair. Of course, there are problems in the building itself. There are thresholds between the doors that are difficult for wheelchair users to cross. But in many buildings, such as building 6 for example, it is also to do with monument protection and immense costs to be able to completely rebuild everything.

Matthias Scheer: Costs and benefits must be balanced. That's quite clear.

Thomas Ring: And if it's a general renovation of the entire building, it's easier to implement than if you only do parts of it.

Catherine Birke: Yes, there are also people who are dependent on tactile sensations or who are not necessarily dependent on wheelchairs due to other physical limitations, but who have difficulty opening fire doors, for example. What would that look like?

Thomas Ring: So, I have to add through K4 we have a so-called guide system for the blind. There are instructions on how things have to look. It starts with the footpaths, which have this color design for people with visual impairments, for example. You can see that very well here, for example, on the sidewalk in front of building 22, that these different colors gray, this reddish as well as these from the streetcar stop into building 25, into building 28, that these plates have been laid, which have these grooves in them, which are very bright, more contrasting and a color difference to the adjacent plates as well as tactilely palpable. These grooves at the stop of the streetcar, here I have to stand, so that I stand exactly in front of the door of the streetcar. The streetcars then also usually stop like this. The next thing is tactile recognition on the handrails, which is not implemented in all buildings, nor can it be implemented where they’re old, but in the newer buildings as well as in refurbished buildings it is usually already in place, so that people with visual impairments can feel on the handrails which floor they are on.
And it goes on: What is the color design of the door frames, doors, color design of these signs for the room designation. Is that colorful? Is that sufficiently high-contrast? Normally, according to the specifications, it should even be tactile, i.e., readable in Braille, on these signs. This has not yet been implemented everywhere. Furthermore, it is about the paths, the steps, that there is a colored design of the first and last step at the very least, so that one can see that as a visually impaired person. Where does the step end? The footpaths should be different in color, different in contrast. The most difficult issue: the doors. Of course, there are many, many different systems of fire doors; some that are permanently open, some that can be opened with a button, and some that have to be opened by hand. I'm thinking here, for example, just the floor around the corner at the back. It affects the entire building here. These doors are very, very difficult to open by hand, come to think of his situation. It is relatively difficult for a normal person to open such a door. And if you're sitting on let’s say a movable chair, and there's a heavy door, then the chair rolls away rather than the door opening.

Matthias Scheer: Yes, I can confirm that. Sometimes in building 10, when the fire doors close, I stand there and pull on the door until I get it open. But fortunately, that's relatively rare.

Thomas Ring: Well, here again there are different systems, for example, these shut via a smoke detector when smoke is generated. And the others are permanently closed, and you have to open them every time you go through. It doesn't help if you block them with something. Then, of course, you're violating fire safety regulations or safety.

Catherine Birke: But I can say that it's the same for me because we have this fire door around the corner. For example, when I come out of the coffee kitchen, I have my coffee in one hand and I'm trying to balance my cereal bowl in the other. These doors are simply incredibly heavy, and I can imagine, of course, Mr. Scheer, that you would also have problems and struggle with this door and that this can naturally be an obstacle.

Thomas Ring: What I can say about these doors is that there is a building application to convert the doors to a system that is permissible, whether it is to be opened with a pushbutton or that they are permanently open. I think that has to be checked.

Catherine Birke: Mr. Ring, we had already spoken very briefly before our podcast, and you mentioned the Euro-key. This is a Europe-wide, standardized locking system for facilities for disabled persons. Who gets such a Euro-key and what can you open with it at our university?

Thomas Ring: So, this Euro-key is given to people with a certain degree of disability, walking impairment for example, exceptionally walking impaired like wheelchair users or something like that. But also people who have a certain visual impairment or also other diseases like multiple sclerosis or something like that, they all have a right to this key. And with this key, which is colloquially called the Euro-key, is a system that you can now get into every disabled toilet throughout Europe with this key, whether it is here in Germany on highways, train stations, anything. I could just as well go to Switzerland, to Austria, to France and can open with this key the appropriate handicapped restrooms. So that everyone there has the appropriate space, the possibility, the accessibility to use the toilet accordingly.

Catherine Birke: Mr. Scheer, do you have a key like that?

Matthias Scheer: I also have a key like that.

Catherine Birch: How often do you use it like that?

Matthias Scheer: Daily.

Catherine Birke: Just to get to work and to get to your office?

Matthias Scheer: No, I have a normal pill there, a transponder pill like that. No, I usually use it for the disabled toilets.

Thomas Ring: And elevators.

Matthias Scheer: And for the elevators, exactly. Here in front of building 18 and, for example, also building 40 and building 5 in front. You can operate the elevators with that.

Catherine Birke: We tested the elevator here in front of G 18 again just before the podcast, because last week there was actually a sign: "Out of order". And I almost had a heart attack. But it's working again now, thank God.

Severely disabled employees can apply to the representative body for severely disabled employees for measures to help them reintegrate into the workplace or maintain their health, for example. Have you ever taken advantage of such an offer, Mr. Scheer?

Matthias Scheer: Well, I haven't made use of any reintegration or health promotion services yet, because I feel that I don't need them at the moment. The only thing I did at the time was to say that I needed a headset to make phone calls when I was inspecting and discussing my job. Holding the receiver with one arm and taking notes at the same time is just a bit difficult. Yes, and that was noted at the time and within two days I had a headset and a suitable telephone, and that was completely unbureaucratic. I didn't have to fill out anything else. That was neat.

Catherine Birke: That's fantastic, because I would have asked whether that would now involve bureaucratic hurdles and whether the offers that we have here at the university are visible enough.

Matthias Scheer: In my opinion, visibility is always a bit difficult, because it is always different for each individual and it has to be looked at individually. What does the person need? And it is not possible to make a general offer.

Catherine Birke: Mr. Ring, do you want to add anything to that?

Thomas Ring: Yes, I have to say that it is certainly always necessary to carry out a corresponding workplace inspection with the relevant persons. And this is then carried out among the participants such as the company doctor or the staff council, if necessary the representative of the severely disabled, as well as our area again from K4, K43 the occupational safety, where the workplace is then inspected accordingly: How, in what condition is the desk chair, lighting, PC, workstation, what options do you have, what is necessary and in the case of people with disabilities or impairments, there is the possibility that an application is made via the Integration Office for certain appropriate equipment or any additions, so that the employee has it relatively easier so that they can perform their duties. Yes, and that's how it works, and then there are corresponding subsidies from the government. As a rule, it will only ever be a subsidy, never complete funding; in other words, the university will bear part of the costs itself and will then receive a subsidy for certain office equipment or facilitation, be it software, a keyboard or, as in his case, a headset or something else.

Matthias Scheer: Exactly. Other than that, I'm low maintenance. I have a standard table, I have a standard keyboard, I have a standard mouse, and that's how I get along best. As I said, I only have this headset and that's enough for me at the moment.

Catherine Birke: So very undemanding.

Matthias Scheer: Exactly. And I first try to get along with what I have. And if it doesn't fit, then yes, I can still say something. And as it is at the moment, it fits and therefore everything is good.

Catherine Birke: Mr. Ring, you are the person of trust for disabled persons in our company. Who can turn to you for help?

Thomas Ring: Basically, any person or any employee can contact me if they have any questions that perhaps go in this direction. Yes, otherwise I am similar to the staff council. I could also take down any question that relates to labor law or anything, and then try to get clarification from somewhere. Therefore, I am basically there for any other employee, too. I could be a contact person if they want that.

Catherine Birke: And what offers do we have that you think are still underused? As far as your field of work is concerned.

Thomas Ring: What is underused in my field of work... The university offers a lot, which was also mentioned earlier, the company reintegration management. Of course, this is not the representation of the severely disabled persons, this is organized by the employer. We can only provide assistance or support. And there are various other things that are offered by the employer, be it company sports or massages and all kinds of things. Of course, I can't be specific enough about the utilization rate to say whether this could perhaps be accepted more or not.

Catherine Birke: But we definitely have many, many offers that the employees can also use. And you are also the contact person, if there is something that could be of interest, so that they can get information.

Thomas Ring: Inform yes, I could then also forward this to the appropriate people or establish contact.

Catherine Birke: Finally, let's look toward the future. What still needs to be done to become a university for all?

Matthias Scheer: Yes, you should perhaps have a little more confidence in people with disabilities from the outset and not say from the outset: "He certainly can't do that. Instead, let them do it first and then you can see whether it works or not. And yes, in general, communication like this: "You are welcome, you are one of us," should be the focus and should also be communicated more.

Catherine Birke: Mr. Ring, you?

Thomas Ring: I also see in the future that the barrier-free campus, perhaps in the future, the design will be really very, very important. I'm thinking now, for example, just high curbs where a wheelchair user can't get across. Yes, we already have the lowered curbs in many cases, for example building 10, where they always drive over. We also have – I know from my own experience because I organized it – for example at building 5 a lowered curb where this small elevator for the five steps has been installed. In terms of newer construction measures, that is always taken into account right away or should be taken into account right away. But there's always something to be done. It's an ongoing process, and with many of our old buildings in particular, it's of course not always very easy to implement. But we must never lose sight of that. It must always, always, always be taken into account in the future as well.

Catherine Birke: So that you can include everyone, so to speak. Then you should also ask everyone what you can do better.

Thomas Ring: And there is of course always direct communication, perhaps always also quite favorable.

Matthias Scheer: Cobblestones, for example, are another thing.

Thomas Ring: Yes, many admire the cobblestones: "Oh, so beautifully old and that looks wonderful." But for a wheelchair user, it doesn’t work. Big problem.

Matthias Scheer: Every now and then, things go wrong.

Catherine Birke: That also goes wrong sometimes?

Matthias Scheer: It can go wrong if the wheels have a very bad angle. For example, you hit the stones right in the joints and drive over them like this. It's possible that the wheels tilt and then you make a leap forward.

Catherine Birke: Has that ever happened to you when you tell it like that?

Matthias Scheer: Yes. And I've also unfortunately gotten stuck in the rails and taken a leap forward.

Catherine Birke: I hope you didn't get really badly hurt in the process?

Matthias Scheer: It was fine, but cobblestones are nothing at all for wheelchairs or even walkers.

Catherine Birke: Then thank you both for the interview. It was very nice to get new ways of thinking and to see our university with completely different eyes. So, I can assure you that when I walk across the campus now, I will pay very different attention to whether it is also suitable for everyone on the university campus. Thank you.

Matthias Scheer: Likewise. Thank you.

Thomas Ring: Thank you.

Outro voice: "In die Uni reingehört" (listening in on uni). The podcast on the world of work, at OVGU.