Barrier-free exams: Bielefeld is breaking new ground for blind students!

Barrier-free exams: Bielefeld is breaking new ground for blind students!

On April 23, 2025, a milestone in inclusive higher education was set in Germany. For the first time, the barrier-free state compulsory subject examination was carried out at the judicial examination office at the Hamm Higher Regional Court. In this context, two blind law students from the University of Bielefeld and the University of Münster took exams. This groundbreaking initiative was made possible by the newly developed Bielefeld Accessible Law Collection, which was designed as a digital application to enable visually impaired examinees to use legal texts independently.

The Bielefeld collection of laws is a central element of this barrier-free form of examination. It can easily be used with screen readers or Braille displays, eliminating the need for human readers. This not only promotes students' independence, but also represents a significant improvement in equal opportunities in the educational sector. Michael Johannfunke, coordinator of the Central Contact Point for Barrier-Free (ZAB) at Bielefeld University, underlines the relevance of this innovative concept.

A unique selling point of Bielefeld University

The concept of the barrier-free digital collection of laws is a unique selling point of Bielefeld University. The development was carried out at the law chair of Professor Dr. Marie Herberger realized it in close cooperation with the ZAB and the Judicial Examination Office. The positive response to the new digital platform has already resulted in inquiries from other universities, including the University of Münster.

The successful implementation of the exams is a significant step towards a future that makes inclusion and accessibility standard in higher education. In this context, universities must be obliged to provide compensation for disadvantages in order to avoid disadvantages for students with disabilities. Bielefeld University plans to continue to pursue this approach and develop innovative ways to support students with disabilities.

A nationwide impulse for barrier-free education

The nationwide significance of this measure is evident in the light of legislative developments. Since the Federal Office for Accessibility was founded in 2016, there has been a clear mandate to implement accessibility in all areas of life, including higher education. The University Forum for Digitalization recently published a dossier that addresses the topics of diversity and accessibility in digital higher education and initiates a necessary discussion.

With projects such as HessenHub or the innovation forum InnoBar, other universities are also working to promote inclusive overall concepts. In this context, the Bielefeld barrier-free collection of laws is not only a technological advance, but also an urgently needed role model for many educational institutions in Germany that want to take on the challenge of accessibility.

The importance of inclusive forms of examination and the development of digital solutions can therefore be seen as the key that opens the doors to equal opportunities. Students with disabilities should be given the same educational opportunities as their non-disabled fellow students. The implementation of such initiatives represents a significant step towards a fair and inclusive educational culture.

For more information about accessible higher education this is Currently at Bielefeld University a recommended source, as well as this Press release from the North Rhine-Westphalia judiciary and the comprehensive dossier Digital education and inclusion on Bildungsserver.de.