Über die ZAB
About the ZAB
The Accessibility Services (ZAB) is the central address at Bielefeld University when it comes to accessibility and the active participation of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses. We help to make studying, teaching and everyday working life more accessible, inclusive and sensitive to diversity.
Whereby we support
We provide expertise for the following areas and target groups:
- in accessible and diversity-sensitive university development
- in digital accessibility (e.g. websites, documents, tools)
- for prospective students, students and teaching staff on all aspects of studying with a disability or chronic illness
- for employees and managers on employment with a disability or chronic illness
Our origins
The ZAB was founded at the end of 2017 - initiated by the former representative for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses and the representative for severely disabled people - as a joint, central contact point at Bielefeld University.
Individual counselling for studying and working - confidential and independent
The accessibility services (ZAB) advises students and employees of Bielefeld University on participation, accessibility, disability and chronic or mental illness. Counselling is independent, confidential and geared towards individual needs - with the aim of finding suitable support and making everyday study or work life accessible.
For students: Support in reconciling studying and impairment, in particular regarding disadvantage compensation (including support in the application process) and study organisation.
For employees: The representative body for severely disabled employees (SBV) advises on issues such as the degree of disability/equality, aids, as well as structural and digital accessibility in the workplace and personal support measures.
Accessible software development and data visualisation - from the idea to implementation
The ZAB supports all areas of Bielefeld University with expertise in accessible software development and accessible data visualisation - for web, app and desktop applications. Whether research, teaching or administration: we advise and support projects from the initial idea through to implementation so that digital solutions are planned and implemented inclusively right from the start.
We also help in the early phases - for example with conceptualisation, project development and funding applications - and provide technical staff, infrastructure and development services (in full or in part) as required. In this way, we strengthen the standard of digital accessibility at the university in the long term.
One example of this cooperation is the Bielefeld Accessible Law Collection (BBG), developed together with the Chair of Public Law at Bielefeld University.
A contribution to teaching: writing theses and projects at the ZAB
Students can realise their final thesis or a study project in cooperation with the ZAB. Depending on the desired scope, our topics can be worked on as a Bachelor's or Master's thesis. Project work is also possible, provided it is included in the curriculum of the degree programme. To date, the ZAB has supervised 13 theses - and thus contributes to teaching at Bielefeld University.
The ZAB - an area with strong third-party funding for inclusion and diversity
The ZAB is an area of Bielefeld University with strong third-party funding and a focus on inclusion and diversity. To date, we have been able to raise a total of over six million euros in third-party funding. In 2025 alone, more than 600,000 euros were added. This puts the ZAB well above the national average of third-party funding per university professorship¹ of 332,200 euros.
Contact us
E-mail: zab@uni-bielefeld.de
Phone: +49 521 106 - 12 600