"When we live inclusivity, everyone benefits"
In May, Markus Schefer, professor of constitutional and administrative law at the University of Basel, gave a public lecture on the rights of people with disabilities. In their welcoming speeches, Ulrich Weidmann and Julia Dannath emphasised the values of openness and inclusion for ETH Zurich.
After a good four years, the implementation programme ‘Barrier-Free at ETH Zurich’ is coming to an end. The conclusion of the programme also marks the start of a permanent commitment to accessibility, barrier-free design, design for all and inclusion at ETH.
To mark this change, Markus Schefer gave a public lecture on the rights of people with disabilities. He is external page professor of constitutional and administrative law at the University of Basel and Swiss member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
‘Accessibility will continue to be a focus at ETH’
Ulrich Weidmann, Vice President for Infrastructure and Sustainability, opened the event: "The completion of the “Barrier-Free at ETH Zurich” implementation programme is only a milestone, because accessibility will continue to be a focus at ETH. A great deal has been achieved in recent years. We have made structural adjustments to various buildings in terms of access, acoustics and lighting. We plan new buildings to be accessible from the outset. Numerous adjustments in the digital area have optimised communication tools, teaching materials and library media. We have improved orientation with new signage and a digital study guide. And we have achieved a great deal in the area of teaching and learning infrastructure, from captioning teaching videos to height-adjustable tables and learning workstations."
Diversity as a strength
Julia Dannath, Vice President for Personnel Development and Leadership, emphasised the value of accessibility and inclusion for ETH in her welcoming address: ‘Diversity and inclusion enrich the university. They open up new perspectives, promote empathy and strengthen cohesion. An inclusive university is not just an institution that shows tolerance – it is a community in which no one has to fight to participate.’ She added: ‘I hope that in the future, ETH will continue to be a place where no one is left behind. A university that shows that diversity is not an obstacle, but a strength. And I am convinced that when we live inclusivity, we will all benefit – not only as members of ETH, but as human beings and as a society.’
Commitment and awareness are crucial
In his entertaining presentation, Markus Schefer explained the complex legal situation surrounding the rights of people with disabilities. He began by asking the key question: Why is a special UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities necessary if general human rights apply to everyone? The answer: It is not a matter of creating additional rights, but of ensuring that people with disabilities are treated equally and do not experience discrimination. This cannot be taken for granted – not even in a prosperous and supposedly progressive country like Switzerland.
Schefer made it clear that there is no ‘police officer’ to ensure that the law is obeyed. That is why it is extremely important to campaign for this and to repeatedly draw attention to the fact that the rights of people with disabilities actually apply.
Accessibility
Accessibility affects us all: every day, everyone faces barriers of varying degrees. ETH Zurich aims to minimise these barriers or, ideally, remove them completely. The university should be designed according to the principle of ‘design for all’ so that everyone has largely unrestricted access to its buildings and services.
Further information on advice, services, events and news can be found on the new Accessibility website.
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