Inclusion in Austria

What does inclusion mean?

Inclusion means that every person belongs from the very beginning. Without an application, without conditions, without the detour of questioning whether someone fits in. A society is inclusive when its structures are designed in such a way that everyone can participate: in school, at the workplace, in public transport, at the polling station, on the internet.

In contrast to integration, which asks: How do people with disabilities, with a migration background, or with a different first language adapt to the existing society?, inclusion asks: How does society change so that everyone can participate?

The four levels of inclusion

Physical inclusion: barrier-free access to buildings, transportation, and venues.
Communicative inclusion: sign language, easy-to-understand language, multilingual information, subtitles, and audio descriptions.
Social inclusion: participation in education, work, culture, and politics without special groups.
Digital inclusion: websites, apps, and assistive technologies that comply with WCAG guidelines, and protection against digital exclusion.

Inclusion in Austria: the figures

Inclusion can be measured. Three datasets reflect the current state of affairs.

People with disabilities

According to Statistics Austria, approximately 1.4 million people in Austria have a permanent impairment. This represents about 16 percent of the population. In the microcensus on the living situation of people with disabilities, 21 percent reported experiencing discrimination in the past twelve months, most often at the workplace and in accessing services.

Labor market

According to AMS data from 2024, the employment rate for people with disabilities in Austria is approximately 51 percent, compared to 75 percent in the general population. Companies with 25 or more employees are obligated by the Disability Employment Act to employ at least one person with a disability or to pay a compensatory tax. More than two-thirds of the companies surveyed do not fully meet this quota.

Education

Austria committed itself to inclusive education through the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008. Currently, according to the Ministry of Education, approximately 60 percent of students with special educational needs attend mainstream schools, while the rest attend special schools. Vienna established the first region-wide inclusive model in 2018.

Legal Framework in Austria

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Federal Law Gazette III No. 155/2008): Legally binding since 2008, it obligates the country to inclusive education, employment, and participation.
Law on Equality of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (Federal Law on Equality for Persons with Disabilities): Prohibits discrimination based on disability in everyday life and in the provision of services.
Law on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities (Federal Law on Employment of Persons with Disabilities): Regulates employment protection and employment obligations.
Federal Law on Persons with Disabilities (Federal Disability Act): Regulates social benefits and care allowances.
Web Accessibility Act (Federal Web Accessibility Act): Implements an EU directive, obligating public authorities to provide barrier-free websites and apps according to WCAG 2.1 AA.
European Accessibility Act (EAA): Mandatory from June 28, 2025, for private providers of banking services, e-commerce, e-books, transport tickets, and more.

Consultation points for discrimination include the Federal Disability Ombudsman and the Ministry of Social Affairs Service.

Inclusion in Vienna: Contact Points and Initiatives

Consultation and Self-Advocacy

BIZEPS, Center for Self-Determined Living: Peer counseling, political empowerment, and information on personal assistance.
Federal Disability Ombudsman: Free legal advice in cases of discrimination.
Vienna Social Services: Personal assistance and accompanying services.
Austrian Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired: Consultation, rehabilitation, and mobility training.
Austrian Deaf Association: Sign language interpretation, consultation.
autArK: Consultation and support for people with disabilities in employment.

Education and Employment

equalizent: Specializes in placement and training for people with disabilities in Vienna.
Lichterkette: Support for people with learning difficulties in Vienna.
integration:wien: Parents' Association for Inclusive Education
Selbstbestimmt Leben Österreich (SLIÖ): Umbrella organization of the disability movement

Culture and Sports

Theater im Augarten: Regular performances in simplified language
Wiener Festwochen: Increasingly audio-described and subtitled performances
Special Olympics Austria: Sports for people with learning disabilities
Inklusionswoche Wien: Annual series of events around December 3rd

Awareness Days for Inclusion

December 3rd, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, proclaimed by the United Nations
May 5th, European Day of Action for People with Disabilities
March 21st, World Down Syndrome Day
April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day
October 10th, World Mental Health Day

Digital Inclusion: What web accessibility means

According to tests by the Hilfsgemeinschaft der Blinden und Sehschwachen (Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired), over 90 percent of websites in Austria are not fully accessible. Images without alt text, colors with insufficient contrast, forms without keyboard navigation: these are the most common obstacles.

With the European Accessibility Act, which comes into effect on June 28, 2025, not only government agencies but also private providers of a certain size are required to make their digital products accessible. This affects e-commerce, online banking, smartphones, self-service terminals, e-books, and ticketing systems.

iks.haus consistently follows the WCAG 2.1 AA standard. Live subtitles in all video content, TTS (text-to-speech) audio versions of all articles, simplified language versions for complex topics, keyboard navigation, and screen reader compatibility are standard editorial practice, not special features.

Frequently Asked Questions about Inclusion

What is the difference between inclusion and integration?

Integration asks: How do people adapt to the existing society? Inclusion asks: How does society change so that everyone can participate? Integration assumes that someone is outside and needs to get in. Inclusion assumes that everyone is already inside, and that structures enable this. More about integration on iks.haus.

What does the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities say?

The Convention, adopted in 2006 and coming into force in Austria in 2008, obligates signatory states, among other things, to promote inclusive education (Article 24), participation in working life (Article 27), accessibility (Article 9), and independent living (Article 19). Austria has a National Action Plan on Disability for 2022 to 2030 to address these issues.

What is Personal Assistance?

Personal assistance is a self-determined support model in which people with disabilities themselves decide when, where, and how they receive help. They independently organize their assistance and act as the employer. In Austria, personal assistance is funded depending on the area of life, through the federal states and the Ministry of Social Affairs.

What does accessibility mean in concrete terms?

Accessibility means: a person can use a service or a space without external assistance and without undue difficulty. This applies to ramps and elevators as well as to subtitles, easy-to-read language, high-contrast fonts, clear signage, or sensory-friendly spaces for people with autism.

Are there still special schools in Austria?

Yes, in addition to inclusion in mainstream schools, there are special schools for children with special educational needs. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities advocates for inclusive education as the standard, but in practice, the dual system remains in place. Parents have the right to choose a mainstream school with support services.

What can I do to act more inclusively?

Three concrete steps: When planning spaces and events, consider accessibility from the beginning. Adjust language, especially when referring to disability, for example, "person with a disability" instead of "disabled person." Examine the voting records of politicians who block or promote inclusion.

What funding is available for companies?

The Ministry of Social Affairs, among other things, supports the employment of people with disabilities, the creation of disability-friendly workplaces, training, and awareness-raising measures. The Austrian Chamber of Commerce also provides information on the NEBA funding program.

Glossary: Important Terms

Accessibility: Access to spaces, information, and services without obstacles.
Eligible for disability benefits: A legal status in Austria indicating a minimum of 50 percent degree of disability.
EAA: European Accessibility Act, an EU directive for digital accessibility.
Inclusive education: The joint learning of all children, regardless of abilities.
Easy language: A simplified form of language for people with learning difficulties or limited language skills.
Neurodiversity: Neurological variation, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and Tourette's syndrome.
Peer counseling: Counseling provided by individuals with similar experiences to those seeking help.
Personal assistance: A self-determined support model.
UN CRPD: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
WCAG: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines from the W3C.