Dear readers,

Uncertainty can arise in the correct use of the terms "impairment" and "disability," as they are often used colloquially as synonyms and many are unaware of the difference between the terms. In the discussion about the distinction between the terms, different perspectives meet, each setting their focus differently (e.g., on the physical, individual, or societal level). In addition, the understanding of the concept of disability has changed over time.

Therefore, in this newsletter we want to discuss the basic differences between a disability and an impairment according to the current understanding that has become widespread in Disability Studies.

1. Impairment or disability? - The distinction

The terms disability and impairment are often used interchangeably in everyday language. Yet there is a crucial difference. When impairment is spoken of, the focus is on the physical aspect of disability. An impairment can be a missing arm, a chronic illness, limited vision or similar (cf. leitmedien.de).

Disability is to be distinguished from this. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines the term disability as follows: People are considered disabled "who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may prevent them from participating fully, effectively and equally in society" (UN 2006, Article 1). Accordingly, the view is directed away from the individual person to the societal level and its barriers for affected persons. The concept of disability is therefore more comprehensive, as it includes the social level as opposed to the purely physical side of the impairment.

In this respect, the barriers in society - also called Ableism - are to be seen as a characteristic of the disability and arise in interaction with the impaired affected persons. It is not so much the impaired vision itself that affects the affected person, but the environment with its associated barriers such as illegible texts, traffic signs, etc. This distinction between the individual, physical level of impairment (English impairment) and the social level (English disability) is described with the social model of disability (cf. Köbsell 2016: 90).

2. Barrier poverty as a social task

"Through these barriers in society, an individual impairment becomes a disability. However, the problem is not the individual person with his or her impairment, but it is the barriers in society that we have to remove" (Fisseler 2020).

Reducing barriers is therefore a task for society as a whole, in which education plays a particularly important role.

The importance of eliminating digital barriers for students in terms of equitable participation in educational opportunities was first publicly discussed during the time of the Corona pandemic and became particularly apparent due to the increased number of people affected.

3. Barriers in the university sector

A barrier can impede or prevent the participation of those affected if materials, courses or (virtual) spaces are not designed to be accessible.In the context of university digital teaching, there are many different areas in which barriers can arise, e.g.:

- in teaching/learning materials

- in lectures and seminars

- in examinations or examination formats

- on websites and web presences

- in forms

It is important that information in the digital realm is equally accessible to all people. In this context, teachers play a key role in designing their course concepts and teaching/learning materials in order to avoid barriers for students.

If you need further information on barrier-free teaching or support in designing your barrier-free digital teaching, teaching/learning materials, forms and websites, please feel free to contact us. After all, every barrier prevented matters and helps make digital teaching more equitable, piece by piece. Moreover, accessible (digital) teaching is beneficial for everyone.

In our next newsletter, we will look at the legal framework of barrier-free digital teaching and answer the question of the extent to which universities are obliged to make their university teaching barrier-free.

Sources

Leitmedien: Begriffe über Behinderung von A bis Z, URL: Begriffe über Behinderung von A bis Z - Leidmedien.de

Fisseler, Björn (2020): Barrierefreiheit und inklusive Digitalisierung, URL:

https://hochschulforumdigitalisierung.de/de/blog/barrierefreiheit-und-inklusive-digitalisierung

Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für die Belange von Menschen mit Behinderungen (Hrsg.) (2018): Die UN-Behindertenrechtskonvention. Übereinkommen über die Rechte von Menschen mit Behinderungen. Amtliche deutsche Übersetzung, Stand 2018.

Köbsell, Swantje (2016): „Doing Dis_ability: Wie Menschen mit Beeinträchtigungen zu „Behinderten“ werden“, In: Fereidooni, Karim / Zeoli, Antonietta P. (Hrsg.): Managing Diversity. Die diversitätsbewusste Ausrichtung des Bildungs- und Kulturwesens, der Wirtschaft und Verwaltung. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. 89-104.