Statement on handicapped accessibility

The University and State Library of Münster is committed to improving handicapped accessibility on its websites and mobile applications in compliance with the EU Directive 2016/2102. The following statement documents the status of implementation of handicapped accessible services by the University and State Library of Münster, offered via https://www.uni-muenster.de/Forschungsdaten/en/, in accordance with the Law for Equal Access for Handicapped Persons (BGG) and the Regulations for the Creation of Accessible Information Technology as mandated by the BGG NRW.

Status of regulatory compliance

This website partially complies with the provisions of the Law for Equal Access for Handicapped Persons (BGG), § 12a of the Regulations for the Creation of Accessible Information Technology, and the EU Directive 2016/2102.
The criteria of handicapped accessibility are based on the internationally recognised Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1), the conformity level AA and the European standard EN 301 549, version 3.1.1. For PDF documents, the international standard PDF/UA-1 serves as the basis for handicapped accessibility guidelines.

Assessment method: self-evaluation (Art. 3 (1), lit. a), first bullet point of the implementation decision (EU) 2018/1523 of 11 Oct. 2018)
Published: 01 Aug. 2023
Last update: 01 Aug. 2023

Non-accessible content for disabled users

The following non-accessible content can still be found on various pages of our website:

  • Occasionally missing alternatives or alternative texts for navigational tools.
  • Integrated documents, such as PDFs, are not always provided in handicapped accessible form.
  • The colour contrast of certain buttons is occasionally insufficient.
  • The website does not offer content in sign language.
  • The integrated campus map has not yet been supplemented with a text version.
  • The position of the keyboard focus is not always apparent.
  • In some cases, moving content (sliders) cannot be disabled.

Non-handicapped accessible content exempted from legal provisions

The following content is not handicapped accessible as it is explicitly exempted from compliance in accordance with § 4 BITVNRW in conjunction with Art. 1 (4) of the EU Directive 2016/2102:

  • Live audio or video streaming
  • Content and documents created by third parties, as these lie beyond the scope of responsibility of the University of Münster and are neither financed nor developed by the University of Münster.

Lack of handicapped accessibility due to disproportionate burden

In accordance with § 10 (4) and (2) of the NRW Law for Equal Access for Handicapped Persons (BGG NRW) and § 4 (2) of the Regulations for the Creation of Accessible Information Technology as mandated by the BGG (BITVNRW) in conjunction with Art. 5 of the EU-Directive 2016/2102, the provision of videos in a handicapped accessible form has been deemed to be a disproportionate burden as their content is not required for active administrative duties and is available in an alternative handicapped accessible form. Furthermore, the technical effort necessary to create audio descriptions for these is disproportionate to their user frequency as neither the provided media player nor YouTube offers an additional track for audio descriptions.

Handicapped accessible alternatives

If you come across non-handicapped accessible content, please contact the Service Center for Data Management. The staff at the Service Center would be happy to help if you are unable to use or understand web content for lack of handicapped accessible options. You can receive assistance, for example:

  • in a personal meeting
  • on the phone
  • by email
  • via postal correspondence

The staff of the Service Center offers other support services, also in simple language.

Feedback

If you discover content on our website which does not (fully) comply with the handicapped accessibility requirements, you can inform the online editors of the University and State Library of Münster and request information on content which is exempted from the EU Directive.
In the subject line, please type the keyword "Barrierefreiheit" (handicapped accessibility), and in your message, be sure to include the corresponding URL so that we can locate the content to which you refer. We will work to resolve the matter, either by:

  • fixing the problem
  • notifying the responsible office/department
  • providing information on alternative methods of usage

Enforcement procedures

If you do not receive a satisfactory response to your inquiry on handicapped accessibility within six weeks, you can obtain the services of the Ombuds Office for Accessible Information Technology. The ombuds office is managed by the Representative for the Interests of the Disabled in accordance with § 11 of the NRW Law for Equal Access for Handicapped Persons. If you enlist the services of an ombudsperson, please fill out the corresponding application form and send it via email to the ombuds office.

Ombudsstelle für barrierefreie Informationstechnik des
Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen bei der Landesbeauftragten
für Menschen mit Behinderungen
Fürstenwall 25
40219 Düsseldorf

Further information on studying with a disability at the University of Münster

The Disability and Access Resource Centre provides students and instructors at the University of Münster with the following services:

  • technical support during one’s studies
  • accessibility of the buildings of the University of Münster
  • handicapped accessible teaching and learning materials
  • consultation on handicapped accessible academic and teaching organisation

Contact:

Disability and Access Resource Centre
Tobias Grunwald
Tel.: +49 (0)251 83-22015
kosmb@uni-muenster.de