Julian Heeb, 22 years old, is studying electrical engineering at ETH in his 4th semester. Julian has spinal muscle atrophy (1) and can only get around using an electric wheelchair. During his four semesters at ETH he has repeatedly encountered obstacles of a smaller or greater nature. "It's the little problems that make it more difficult to study in a wheelchair," he says. "For example, most of the doors are too heavy to open without someone's help and the fixed chairs in the lecture rooms make it difficult to get near the desks," explains Julian. This is why he uses a writing case as a desk on his lap. Apart from this he gives ETH good marks with regard to wheelchair access. He adds that wheelchair users are used to having to cope with insurmountable obstacles in their everyday lives. The organisation of one's day outside the university is also important, he says.

How do I get from here to there?

ETH and the University of Zurich are the only two universities in Switzerland that offer advisory services for people with disabilities (2). Each year, 20 to 30 students call on the help these services provide. The Rector's Office at ETH offers an additional port of call for students. Detailed maps of the buildings are of great help. "It's important to know exactly how to get to a certain room, otherwise it can take ages," says Julian, who has had lots of experience. Wheelchair users can't wait until the last minute, or even the last half-hour, to find out how they can get to where they have to be, he explains. Julian turns to the Rector's Office for help where, he says, the people are always helpful and competent. The popular initiative calls for "equal opportunities and unhindered access". For Julian the initiative is "a step in the right direction".

Disturbance in the lecture rooms

Kay Sauter, 23 years old and studying law in his 2nd semester, meets with somewhat different difficulties. Before taking up law, he studied computer science at ETH for two semesters. Kay is deaf (3) and has a cochlea implant. In order to reduce interference, he always sits in the front row in lecture rooms so that he can hear the lecturer. To enhance the benefit of the implant he uses an FM sender. The lecturer wears a special microphone that the sender directly transmits to Kay's implant. The transmission of the signals works by modulating the signals' frequency. "Because lecturers usually have two microphones, they often crackle, which makes it difficult to hear," says Kay. An induction appliance in lecture rooms would solve this problem.

ETH student Julian Heeb has to stretch himself to the limit to reach the lift control panel. large

At the University of Zurich three lecture rooms have already been equipped with such appliances. There are none at ETH. Kay is adept at lip-reading but he says that it is too taxing to do this all day long. Another solution would be the use of a so-called "note-takers" system, which is used at some US universities where notes are taken down by staff during each lecture. But, Kay says, as long as this is not a legal requirement in Switzerland, however, there is no chance of it happening. Although the Initiative would not change this point, Kay is convinced that it is a milestone in Switzerland for the further integration of people with disabilities.

Kay Sauter with his FM sender. large

Consequences for ETH?

A positive decision on the Initiative would mean that access to all ETH buildings would have to be adapted to accommodate people with disabilities. This is already the case in the main building with the exception of the two lecture rooms HG G 3 and 5 and the area of the Mensa/Cafeteria Polyterrasse. According to Daniel Genucchi of in-house services, wheelchair access to the main building was tested, together with wheelchair users, and found to be "just about adequate". Further adjustments are absolutely necessary, he says, for example, access through the main doors and more help for people with visual impairments to find their way around. He considers that these points should be addressed, even if the Initiative does pass.