Disability Advisory Service for Personnel

Photo of Shirley Thruner

Dear members of the Angewandte,
 
My name is Shirley Thurner and I have been providing the Disability Advisory Service for Personnel at the University of Applied Arts Vienna since March 2017
 
During my time at the Angewandte (2012 - 2019 Room Coordination and Event Management since Oct 2019) I have met a large number of our university personnel which motivated me to support the interests of persons with disabilities.
 
My main focus is on general concerns of staff who feel restricted at the Angewandte in various ways. They are welcome to turn to me with their queries, requests or issues – be it regarding suitable infrastructure (furniture, equipment, implements, etc.) or to acquire information (providing links or advice on who to contact) or to just speak openly about a matter of concern.
 
Together with Christian Schneider, who deputises for me, I liaise with the rectorate towards achieving and adhering to the rights of the „registered disabled“ within the artistic, scientific, or general personnel, e.g. by considering such aspects in the recruiting process, or through in-house awareness campaigns.
 
At the same time, I am available as a contact for the students at our university who need support because of a disability, whereby these issues are dealt with in close cooperation with the vice-rectorate for academic affairs and development, as well as the department for social policies within the students‘ union at the Angewandte (hufak).
 
Irrespective of whether I am contacted by a staff member or a student, I shall endeavour to find a solution while of course maintaining confidentiality throughout. Sometimes it is just missing information or a feeling of embarrassment that hampers entitled persons to gain improvements by way of suitable measures (e.g. microphone connections for hearing aids, translations into sign language, etc.), or it may stop them getting assistance in putting forward claims to the Departmental Service of the Ministry for Social Affairs.
 
You are welcome to contact me regarding any questions in connection with impairments!

My contact details:
Shirley Thurner
Office adress: 3., Vordere Zollamtsstraße 7, groundfloor
Landline: +43-1-71133-6307

Officer for students with disabilities

Photo of Veronika Merklein  Text:
 
My name is Veronika Merklein and I am an officer for students with disabilities since summer 2022. Besides my job as an exchange coordinator for incoming students, I have been providing support for disabled and impaired students at the University of Applied Arts Vienna.
 
I myself am used to not fitting in on a daily basis. This experience and my more than ten years of artistic and activist work have sensitized me to diversification and inclusion. To make our university more accessible, is a personal concern for me.
 
My approach is not to follow a catalogue of measures, but to focus on the individual needs and questions in the center of attention. Concerns can only be seen and improved when they reach me, which is why I also encourage to approach me proactively.

My contact details:

Mag.a Veronika Merklein                                   
Office address: Georg-Coch-Platz (Former Postsparkasse, International Office), Georg-Coch-Platz 2, 1010 Vienna, Room: 010
E-mail: barrierefrei@uni-ak.ac.at                                  
Landline: +43-1-71133-3173   

Consultation hour: Wed, 15:30 - 18:00 (Please make an appointment in advance)