Contact Us
Service Point for Accessible Working
Mandellstraße 9, 1st floor
8010 Graz
barrierefrei-arbeiten@tugraz.at
We provide advice and support for:
- Current employees with disabilities and mental and/or chronic illness
- New employees with disabilities and mental and/or chronic illness
- Employees with disabilities who have reservations about belonging to the group of disabled beneficiaries (begünstigt behinderte Menschen)
- Employees and heads of organisational units who wish to learn more about inclusion in the workplace
You are not sure if you have come to the right place?
Just contact us! We will assist you in figuring out who can best help you with your request.
Who is considered a person with a disability?
A disability is not to be considered a personal character trace in our view. A disability is rather a problem that arises as a result of barriers and inaccessibilities in the environment. In this sense, the Service Point aims to support all people with disabilities and mental and/or chronic illnesses who are impaired by barriers in the workplace or find their working environment is not sufficiently accessible.
Typical examples would be people with limited vision or limited mobility. However, often people are also impaired by barriers due to invisible conditions, such as asthma, chronic bowel disease, depressive illness, PTSD, hepatitis, diabetes, COPD, epilepsy, heart disease, ASD, ADHD, partial sightedness, cancer, etc.
If you are not sure whether you would be considered a person with a disability, feel free to contact us at barrierefrei-arbeiten@tugraz.at.
Individual advice and support
- with applications, for a Disability Identity Card ( Behindertenpass) or for determination of the degree of disability (Grad der Behinderung, GdB)
- with individual subsidies, for example the mobility allowance or work- and training-related subsidies for technical work aids, etc.
- with setting up accessible workplaces and technical aids
- with raising awareness and providing information on the subject of disabilities, mental health and/or chronic illnesses
- with general questions about working with disabilities or inclusion in the workplace
- with information on accessibility-related structural design
- with legal questions related to working with disabilities
Assistance with the application to become a disabled beneficiary
Disabled beneficiaries (begünstigt behinderte Menschen) are people whose degree of disability (Grad der Behinderung, GdB) has been assessed as at least 50 per cent. Not only people with disabilities but also people with mental and/or chronic illnesses are eligible for this status.
By submitting an application to the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, you can apply for an official decision (Bescheid) establishing the status of a disabled beneficiary, which brings with it certain rights and advantages in accordance with the Disability Employment Act (BEinstG). You can find detailed information about who is eligible to be included in this group of beneficiaries in German in the appendix to the Regulation of Assessment of the Degree of Disability.
Application process
The requirements and details on the application process can be found in German on the website of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs.
Advice and support
Our Service Point for Accessible Working and our Representative for People with Disabilities are here to help and advise you on all disabled benefits topics and give you full support for your application process. Contact us at barrierefrei-arbeiten@tugraz.at.
Please note: You can request revoking of your status as a disabled beneficiary at any time.
Advantages for employees who are disabled beneficiaries
- Increased protection against dismissal and redundancy
Employers must obtain the consent of the committee responsible before giving notice of termination. However, this increased protection against dismissal only takes effect after a certain period of employment.
More information on protection against dismissal is available in German on the website of ÖZIV ‒ Federal Association for People with Disabilities - Additional paid time off
If you have a five-day working week at TU Graz, you are granted five days of additional paid time off per year.
Details can be found in German in Uni-KV §19 . - Income tax allowance
From a degree of disability of 25%, a flat-rate tax exemption can be granted on request.
More information is available in German on the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the ÖZIV. - Renumeration protection
The salary of employees with disabilities must not be lower than that of other employees in the same position.
Legal basis: BEinstG §7 - Additional support and subsidies
Depending on individual needs, additional subsidies for e.g., technical work aids or personal assistance at work are possible. - Representation by the Representative for People with Disabilities
Additional promotional possibilities in the workplace
- Personal assistance at work
Personal assistance at work (Persönliche Assistenz am Arbeitsplatz, PPA) is an offer that enables people with disabilities to take part in professional life independently and in a self-determined manner. The services are based on the needs of the person receiving the assistance, for example mobility support, copying activities, etc.
Further information: Services of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs; Initiative for social integration (Initiative soziale Integration) - Support from the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs
e.g. mobility subsidies, accessible workplace adaptation, offers for people who are hard of hearing and hearing impaired
More information: Services of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs
Other support and funding options
In addition to work-related funding options, there is the possibility of further support, e.g., in the form of
- Support fund for people with disabilities for e.g., stair lifts, mobility (e.g. purchase/adaptation of a motor vehicle), assistance dogs, communication aids
- Subsidies for cars, e.g., exemption from motor vehicle tax, free motorway permit sticker, special parking permit, exemption from parking fees, reduced annual car toll, tax allowance, parking
- ÖBB ticket discounts
- Verbundlinien ticket discounts
- Other fee exemptions (e.g., broadcasting fee)
Service Point for Accessible Working
Thomas WALLNER
Phone: +43 664 88 892 178
barrierefrei-arbeiten@tugraz.at
![[Translate to Englisch:] Andreas Gößler, Bildquelle: Gößler](https://www.tugraz.at/fileadmin/_processed_/1/d/csm_Andreas_Goessler_by_Goessler_1723765a0b.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Andreas Gößler, Bildquelle: Gößler")
Representative for People with Disabilities
Andreas GÖSSLER
Phone: +43 316 873 6144
bvp@tugraz.at
Service Point for Accessible Working
Elisabeth LENZ
Phone: +43 316 873 4773
barrierefrei-arbeiten@tugraz.at
Where to find the Service Point for Accessible Working
Address: Mandellstraße 9, 1st floor, 8010 Graz
The Service Point can be reached by public transport and car.
Mit Bim und Bus
Tram lines: 1 and 7
Stop: Kaiser-Josef-Platz/Opera
Then on foot: ca. 3 min. Kaiser-Josef-Platz/Opera – Mandellstraße 9
Tram line: 3/5
Stop: Mandellstraße
Then on foot: ca. 2 min. Tram stop Mandellstraße – Mandellstraße 9
Bus lines: 30, 31 and 39
Stop: Kaiser-Josef-Platz/Opera
Then on foot: ca. 3 min. Kaiser-Josef-Platz/Opera – Mandellstraße 9
Do you need a pick-up service? If you do, please let us know when and where you want to be picked up. We will organise everything else.
By car
Public parking is available in the immediate vicinity of the Service Point. If you need a barrier-free parking space, please contact us so we can provide a parking space in the inner courtyard. You can reach our inner courtyard via Lessingstraße 31.
Where to find the Representative for People with Disabilities
Address: Petersgasse 116 to 118, ground floor, 8010 Graz
The office of the Representative for People with Disabilities can be reached by public transport and car.
By tram and bus
Tram line: 6
Stop: Schulzentrum St. Peter
Then on foot: ca. 1 min. Schulzentrum St. Peter - Petersgasse 116 to 118
Bus lines: 64, 64E
Stop: Schulzentrum St. Peter
Then on foot: ca. 1 min. Schulzentrum St. Peter - Petersgasse 116 to 118
Please contact me if you need a pick-up service.
By car
Parking is available directly in front of the building.
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Just get in touch at barrierefrei-arbeiten@tugraz.at. We will assist you in figuring out who can best help you with your request.
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All persons with a degree of disability rating of at least 50 per cent are eligible for special benefits and can apply for the status of disabled beneficiaries. This includes people with physical disabilities as well as people with mental and/or chronic illnesses.
The Disability Employment Act defines disability as the effect of a physical, mental or psychological functional impairment or impairment of sensory functions that is non-temporary and is likely to make participation in working life more difficult. A period of more than six months is considered to be non-temporary.
People with disabilities have clearly defined rights and benefit entitlements under the Disabled Employment Act. These are not issued by an automatic process, however, but must be claimed on the basis of an application that is submitted. Using this, it is determined whether any given person is eligible for the status of disabled beneficiary. Without this application, it is not possible to make use of the rights and benefits outlined in the Disabled Employment Act.
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Yes, you certainly can! The appendix to the Regulation of Assessment of the Degree of Disability and the amendment to this appendix define a list of impairments and illnesses including a short explanation of when a degree of disability of 50 per cent would be present.
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In order to be officially recognised as a disabled beneficiary, you have to fill out the application for determining whether you are eligible for the status of a disabled beneficiary and submit it to the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs. The Federal Ministry of Social Affairs will then examine your application and decide on your eligibility.
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Holders of a Disability Identity Card do not automatically qualify for the status of a disabled beneficiary. Even if you hold a Disability Identity Card, you must still submit an application in order to make use of the rights and benefits of the Disability Employment Act.
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“There are no disadvantages to being a disabled beneficiary, only advantages,” says Andreas Gößler, Representative for People with Disabilities at TU Graz.
If you are still worried that there might be disadvantages for you, please contact us.
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No. In 2011, it was determined that for the first four years of employment, the same rules and regulations regarding termination of employment apply to all employees regardless of whether they have a disability.
Only after these first four years of employment does the increased protection against dismissal take effect. And even then, people with disabilities can be dismissed for a good reason.
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You can always appeal against the rejection. In such a case, please contact the Service Point for Accessible Working or the Representative for People with Disabilities.
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You can request a revocation of your status as a disabled beneficiary at any time and without giving reasons. A simple e-mail to the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs with a request to revoke your status is sufficient.
Legal basis
According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, all people with disabilities have the right to work, on an equal basis of others.
In Austria, the Disability Employment Act (BEinstG) provides the legal basis for protection against discrimination in the workplace. The protection against discrimination applies to hiring, wages, voluntary social benefits, training and further education measures, access to careers advice and training, career advancement, and more.
With the Part of Statutes: Affirmative Actions Plan, TU Graz is committed to equal opportunities for people with disabilities, mental, physical and/or chronic illnesses. It creates framework conditions for equal participation in all teaching, research and administrative operations. TU Graz designs its job advertisements and personal job interviews according to non-discriminatory principles and makes special reference to equality goals in all application situations and job advertisements.
Further relevant contact points and organisations
- Representative for People with Disabilities
supports employees with disabilities and/or chronic and mental illnesses in all questions relating to disabilities and work. - Workplace Health Management
supports employees of TU Graz in the area of physical and mental health. - Psycho-social counselling centre for employees
supports TU Graz employees in finding possible solutions to work-specific problems as well as in personal conflict situations.
The Accessible Working Service Point is happy to advise you on other university-external contact points and support options tailored to your individual needs.
