Social support for handicapped students at the institutions of higher education in Germany (Humboldt university)

The article gives a review of social adaptation support for handicappedstudents at Humboldt University (Germany).To enter the University a student has to complete Abitur, which is a German equivalentto high school level. Based on the diploma a person can apply for a place at university. The procedure is carried out via Internet or a computerat university. The applicant has to fill in a form. Nowadays, there are 128 handicapped students at three universities in Berlin, 52 - atHumboldt university, 43- at Free University and 9 - at Technical University. Among them 43 have mobility disabilities, 31 are blind or visually impaired and 38 are hearing-impaired. All this students are actively supported by the noncommercial students organization "Schtundenwerk"and get all necessary assistance to complete their education.This organization was started in Germany as early as in the postwar period. Each university has a representative of this organization.Besides, a lot of people, including teachers, are willing to help handicapped students voluntarily. "Schtundenwerk" employs administrativeworkers, social workers, psychologists, etc. Today the stuff numbers 900 people. The organization works in different direction, for example,arranges special hostel accommodation for handicapped students, helps with paperwork for job applications ( all the students includinghandicapped have to pay for their education), take care of nurseries and kindergartens for students' children. "Schtundenwerk" has a networkof inexpensive student canteens and uses the profits from this on the needs of the handicapped students, such as buying necessary equipmentand computers. Physical accessibility of the University buildings is provided, thus, the main building of Humboldt University has three lifts.All the institutions of higher education provide organization, methodical, psychological and pedagogical support for handicapped studentsduring the training course. There are also paid specially trained students-assistants in each university.

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