Ute Pröllochs
Projektmitarbeiterin- N 022
- proellochs@hs-worms.de
- +49 6241 509-480
- Forschung & Transfer
Representation of People with Severe Disabilities
The representatives for employees with severe disabilities are elected by employees with severe disabilities and those treated as equivalent for a four-year term of office. The duties of the representatives for employees with severe disabilities are set out in Book Nine of the Social Code (SGB IX). The representatives are the central point of contact for all matters and interests relating to employees with severe disabilities and those treated as equivalent, ranging from support during the application process and issues in the workplace to ensuring that the workplace is accessible for people with disabilities.
The representatives receive suggestions and complaints and are always ready to listen to your concerns of any kind. You can contact the representatives via their personal email addresses or via the general email address: vertrauensperson@hs-worms.de. All enquiries will, of course, be treated in confidence. Appointments by arrangement.
Support Officer for People with Severe
Disabilities: Susan Jung
Deputy – Representative for people with severe disabilities
: Ute Pröllochs
Responsibilities of the representatives for people with severe disabilities
The responsibilities of the representative body for people with severe disabilities are wide-ranging and are set out in Section 178 of SGB IX.
- Representing the interests of people with severe disabilities and those treated as such
- Promoting the integration of people with severe disabilities and those treated as such
- Monitoring compliance with laws, regulations, collective agreements and service agreements applicable to people with severe disabilities and those treated as such
- Receiving and dealing with suggestions and complaints
- Participating in interview panels when people with severe disabilities and those of equivalent status apply for jobs
- The right to be informed and consulted on all matters affecting people with severe disabilities and those of equivalent status – whether as individuals or as a group
- Right of initiative: to propose measures that benefit people with severe disabilities and those in equivalent circumstances
- Providing support in the event of problems with colleagues or line managers and, where necessary, participating in discussions
The Representative Body for People with Severe Disabilities represents the interests of employees with severe disabilities and those of equivalent status, including at staff council meetings and the Occupational Safety Committee (ASA), and also maintains close contact with the relevant department.
News
New guidelines: Leadership with responsibility – actively shaping inclusion
To complement the Inclusion Agreement, the Human Resources department, in collaboration with the representatives for employees with severe disabilities, has developed a set of guidelines for managers. These are intended to raise awareness and provide practical support when it comes to dealing with employees with severe disabilities or those treated as such.
The guidelines clearly summarise the most important obligations and recommendations for action – ranging from accessible workplace design and support options to participation procedures.
You can find the guidelines here on the HR department’s intranet page under ‘Inclusion’.
Good to Know
Application for the assessment of the degree of disability
If you have a disability and wish to have your degree of disability (GdB) assessed, you should submit an application to the relevant benefits office in your place of residence. If your GdB is 50 or above, you are considered to have a severe disability and are entitled to appropriate compensation for disadvantages and rights under Book IX of the Social Code. We would be happy to assist you with the preparations and answer any questions you may have about the procedure.
- Determination or amendment of a disability – State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Welfare. You can find further information here.
- Initial application for the assessment of a disability – State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Welfare
Application for equal treatment
If your GdB is between 30 and 40 and, due to your impairment, you are unable to retain (or obtain) a job without being granted equal status, you can submit an application for equal status to the Jobcentre. With equal status, you are legally on an equal footing with people with severe disabilities and enjoy largely the same protective rights, e.g. protection against dismissal. We would be happy to advise you on the requirements and assist you with the application process.
- Equal status with people with severe disabilities – Federal Employment Agency
- Regulation on Medical Care – Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
With a certificate of severe disability or equivalent status, you are entitled to various forms of compensation for disadvantages – depending on your degree of disability. You can find a list of these, as well as university-specific compensation measures, under the tab at the bottom of the page.
You can find a campus map showing the location of disabled parking spaces, lifts and accessible toilets here.
You can find the representatives for students with disabilities here.
Vocational training
Section 164(4) of Book IX of the Social Code
“People with severe disabilities are entitled to
the following from their employers:
2. preferential consideration in internal vocational training schemes designed to promote their career progression;
3. reasonable accommodation to facilitate their participation in external vocational training
schemes...”
Comment: “It is therefore part of the employer’s – or the manager appointed by the employer’s – specific duty to provide support to regularly assess the training needs of employees with severe disabilities and to discuss these with the individuals concerned.”
Main Representative for People with Severe Disabilities for the Ministry of Science and Health’s operational area
Barbara Frankreiter
MWG
Mittlere Bleiche 61
55116 Mainz
T: 06131 / 16-5051
F: 06131 / 16-4019
E: barbara.frankreiter@mwg.rlp.de
https://mwg.rlp.de/ministerium/hauptschwerbehindertenvertretung
The new inclusion agreement was signed in February 2025 by the President, the Chair of the Staff Council and the representative for people with severe disabilities.
You can find Worms University of Applied Sciences’ new Inclusion Agreement on the intranet under ‘Service Agreements’.
A detailed list of which compensatory measures apply from which degree of disability (GdB) can be found in the beta Institute’s overview (as at 2025). These include, amongst others:
- Special protection against dismissal: dismissal is only possible with the consent of the Integration Office
- Remote working: up to 100 per cent, subject to agreement with your line manager (see service agreement on remote working)
- Parking facilities: disabled parking spaces on campus with a blue parking permit
- Additional leave: processed automatically by the HR department as soon as notification of severe disability is received
Further benefits under Section 49 of SGB IX, including:
- Assistive devices (safety work shoes, insoles, etc.)
- Technical aids, provided they become the property of the person with a disability (height-adjustable desks, PC accessories, etc.)
- Workplace aids provided by the employer (employer-provided benefits)
Points of contact
Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to People with Disabilities
Berufsbegleitender Dienst – Association for Integration and Participation in Life e.V.
German Pension Insurance – Pension for people with severe disabilities
REHADAT – central, independent information service on vocational participation and inclusion of people with disabilities
City of Worms – Inclusion, Benefits Office, etc.
Legislation
General Equal Treatment Act (AGG)
Occupational Safety and Health Act
Rhineland-Palatinate Workplace Regulations (Section 3a)
Rhineland-Palatinate State Staff Representation Act (Section 35)
Social Code – SGB Book Nine
Blog post on inclusive language by myAbility www.myability.org/wissen/wissens-blog/inklusion-unternehmen/erfolgsfaktoren/inklusives-wording
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