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FAQ

Answers to the most common questions

Disability leadership refers to an inclusive leadership approach that originates from and is supported by people with disabilities. The focus is on breaking down barriers, promoting self-determination and making leadership more diverse, equitable and accessible.
Unlike traditional leadership models, which often focus on individual excellence and hierarchical structures, disability leadership emphasises shared responsibility, participatory decision-making processes and the importance of collaboration. Disability is not seen as a deficit, but as a perspective that can make valuable contributions to leadership and organisational development.

Disability leadership sees itself as both a practice and an attitude that is geared towards inclusion, accessibility and fairness. It is about questioning existing ideas of leadership, opening up new paths and creating spaces in which different experiences can be recognised and become effective.

The Disability Leadership Programme differs fundamentally from traditional leadership courses. It is aimed exclusively at people with disabilities who want to take on responsibility in the disability movement, in civil society organisations or beyond. The focus is on topics such as self-advocacy and advocacy, barrier-free communication, networking, inclusive leadership approaches and personal resilience.

Unlike standardised programmes, the course follows a flexible, experience-oriented learning approach that is tailored to the individual realities and learning needs of the participants. It is not only about imparting knowledge, but also about personal development, collective learning and building action competence in a complex, often challenging environment.

Of central importance is the joint learning group of peers, which forms a protected space for exchange, feedback and mutual support over four semesters. The learning process is accompanied by individual educational planning, continuous mentoring and practical projects linked to relevant actors from the disability movement and civil society.

No. Neither a disability card nor membership of the group of beneficiaries with disabilities is required to participate in the Disability Leadership Programme.

The programme is aimed at people who define themselves as disabled and feel that they belong to this group. We base our approach on the social model of disability set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This model understands disability as the result of the interaction between individual impairments and societal barriers that can hinder equal participation. The definition in the UN CRPD is as follows:
‘Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.’ (UN CRPD, Preamble, paragraph e)

The focus is therefore not on official proof, but on the personal perspective on one’s own life and experiences in a society that is often not barrier-free.

Participation in the Disability Leadership Programme is free of charge for people with disabilities. There are no tuition fees. If necessary, participants will also receive individual advice and support in applying for support services, such as personal assistance.

However, travel and accommodation costs associated with face-to-face events at the St. Pölten location cannot be covered and must be borne by the participants themselves.
As part of the voluntary module on individual education planning, participants have the opportunity to take part in selected external mainstream leadership programmes. An individual education budget is available to all participants for these external courses. If the selected programmes exceed this budget, it may be necessary to pay a contribution.

Alternatively or in addition, participants are supported in gaining practical experience in the form of internships, work shadowing or job shadowing with network partners. These formats are also individually supervised and adapted to the respective interests and possibilities.

The Disability Leadership Programme is structured in such a way that professional activity is possible but not required. It is aimed at both people who are already working and those who want to (re)orient themselves professionally or open up new opportunities. The aim is to facilitate entry into or advancement to leadership positions in the disability movement or civil society.

The programme follows a blended learning approach, which means that online and face-to-face phases are combined. The face-to-face sessions mainly take place on Fridays and Saturdays at the St. Pölten location. In addition, there is approximately one online course evening per week, which can be attended from any location.

This structure allows for a high degree of flexibility in terms of time, promotes independent learning and enables participants to easily combine the programme with their individual circumstances, be it work, care responsibilities or health requirements.

The Disability Leadership Programme is designed to take into account different learning requirements, life circumstances and disability-specific needs. All participants should be given accessible pathways to a recognised university degree, in line with their capabilities.

The modules contain two levels of requirements:

Basic skills with a lower time commitment: Advanced skills with more in-depth requirements and a higher workload
The number of ECTS (credit points) a person earns during the programme depends on which programme elements they participate in and which requirements they choose and fulfil. One ECTS point corresponds to approximately 25 hours of learning time (including attendance, online learning, practical phases and self-study). On this basis, there are three different degrees:

Certificate of Advanced Studies (minimum 15 ECTS): This degree certifies successful participation in selected modules with a minimum of 15 ECTS. It is particularly suitable for those who wish to further their education in specific subject areas or who are unable to participate in the entire programme for personal reasons.
Diploma of Advanced Studies in Disability Leadership (minimum 30 ECTS): This qualification is aimed at participants who complete modules over a longer period of time and engage in-depth with disability leadership. The diploma demonstrates that the participant has engaged intensively with the content. It can

No, a high school diploma or university entrance qualification is not a prerequisite for participation in the Disability Leadership Programme.

The decisive factor is that applicants are interested in shaping society and are willing to take on responsibility and leadership roles in the disability movement, civil society or other relevant areas.

The programme is open to people with different educational backgrounds and life experiences. It is not about formal qualifications, but about commitment, experience and the willingness to develop further.

The application period for the first round of the Disability Leadership Programme runs from 22 April to 17 June 2025.

Applications must be submitted online via the Right/s Now association website. The complete application documents must be sent by email to office@rightnow.at with the subject line ‘Application Leadership Programme’.

The following must be submitted:

  • a CV (with photo)
  • a letter of motivation (see below)
  • optional: a letter of recommendation (voluntary)
    In your letter of motivation, please provide personal answers to the following three key questions:
  1. Why do you want to participate in the Disability Leadership Programme?
  2. What experiences do you have – in everyday life, in the disability movement or in other contexts – that you would like to contribute to the programme?
  3. What ideas or goals do you have for your personal and social development within the programme?

After the application deadline, all applications received will be carefully reviewed – the principle of ‘first come, first served’ does not apply. The decisive factors are, above all, belonging to the target group and a clearly formulated letter of motivation.

All suitable applicants will be invited to a personal half-hour online interview. This interview will be conducted by a member of the application team, which currently consists of Monika Haider, Barbara Sima-Ruml, Rupert Roniger and Claudia Miler.

If a very large number of applications are received, an additional selection committee consisting of the above-mentioned persons as well as Daniela Rammel, Rupert Roniger and Oliver Koenig will meet.

The selection criteria are:

  • Individual: motivation and professional suitability, realistic planning for participation in the various programme elements
  • Group-related: representation of different forms of disability, a balanced geographical distribution, promotion of women and younger people

Acceptance or rejection will be communicated by the end of August 2025 at the latest. Upon acceptance, an individual introductory and counselling meeting will be arranged with the course supervisor. The official start of the programme is 31 October 2025.

The Disability Leadership Programme is designed to last four semesters and has a modular structure. The modules are delivered in a blended learning format, which means that there is a combination of face-to-face sessions and online teaching.

The face-to-face sessions mainly take place on Fridays and Saturdays at the campus of Bertha von Suttner Private University St. Pölten. In addition, there are weekly online evening sessions that can be attended from any location.

The St. Pölten campus is one of the most modern educational locations in Austria and is easily accessible by public transport, e.g. in around 30 minutes from Vienna Meidling, Hütteldorf or Westbahnhof.

The programme offers flexible participation formats and different levels of requirements so that individual life circumstances, professional commitments and disability-specific needs can be taken into account. The course is organised with the aim of providing an educational experience that is as barrier-free and individually adaptable as possible.

Accessibility is a central design principle of the Disability Leadership Programme – not an afterthought. We deliberately refer to a barrier-free learning environment because accessibility is always related to individual needs, social conditions and specific learning situations. Our goal is to provide all participants with the best possible, individually tailored educational experience.

Accessibility needs are assessed during the application process and further specified in a personal interview with the course supervisor. This also includes previous experiences, effective strategies and possible support needs. The course supervisor remains a constant point of contact for participants and teachers throughout the entire programme.

We provide support with applications for certain support services, such as personal assistance or sign language interpreting. Where public funding is not available, the project has its own budget.

The programme uses blended learning with face-to-face and online formats. The St. Pölten campus is structurally barrier-free, and technical aids such as mobile microphone sets, tactile guidance systems and OCR scanners are available. In addition, online tutorials are offered, materials are made available early on and are digitally prepared in such a way that they meet different learning needs.

The programme uses blended learning with face-to-face and online formats. The St. Pölten campus is structurally barrier-free, and technical aids such as mobile microphone sets, tactile guidance systems and OCR scanners are available. In addition, online tutorials are offered, materials are made available early on and are digitally prepared in such a way that they meet different learning needs.

The programme also allows for different levels of requirements per module (basic and advanced skills) as well as flexible completion options (certificate, CAS, academic expert, microcredentials). This allows for individual life circumstances, learning strategies, and time resources to be taken into account without jeopardising the recognition of achievements.

Yes. The Disability Leadership Programme is designed to be adaptable to different life situations – even if personal, health or professional circumstances change over time.

Participants receive individual support throughout the entire programme – particularly through course supervision and educational planning. Together, we can find ways to adjust the timing or content, take breaks or redesign the course of study.

It is particularly important to us that even if the programme cannot be completed in full, the work already done is not lost. Thanks to the different qualification formats – microcredentials, Certificate of Advanced Studies or Academic Expert – participants can still obtain a recognised university certificate even if they drop out prematurely. This means that their learning path remains visible and usable, regardless of how long or how completely the programme is completed.

Personal support is a key element of the Disability Leadership Programme. Even before the official start of the programme, an initial individual meeting takes place with the course supervisor to discuss expectations, learning objectives and any support requirements. During the programme, individual reflection meetings are scheduled at least once per semester – or more frequently if necessary.

The course supervisor is a reliable contact person for organisational, content-related or accessibility-related questions throughout the entire duration of the programme and ensures continuity and orientation in the learning process.

The scientific director is Univ. Prof. Dr. Oliver Koenig, who, together with a dedicated teaching team, is responsible for the quality of the programme’s content. At least 50% of the teaching staff are themselves people with disabilities. Great importance is attached to team teaching – i.e. teaching together from different perspectives.

Participants are assigned a suitable mentor who accompanies and supports them, particularly in the implementation of their project and in reflecting on their personal leadership journey.Individual support is supplemented by online tutorials, networking events and numerous formal and informal reflection formats that create space for exchange, review and outlook.

The learning group itself is of particular importance: as a peer group, it offers mutual support, shared experience and collective resonance. In this trusting environment, individual development and collaborative learning can be combined in a unique way.

In the Disability Leadership course, participants develop their own project, which they present at the end. It should be linked to their own experience, motivation and vision of leadership.

In the second semester, a separate module supports them in brainstorming, planning and implementation. Projects can be carried out alone, in a team or with external partners. Mentors accompany the entire process.

The projects should deal with topics such as inclusion, advocacy, human rights, social change or advocacy.

Possible project formats:

  • Cooperation with organisations: e.g. workshops for managers on the importance of disability leadership
  • Activist interventions: e.g. social media campaigns or actions in public spaces
  • Media projects: e.g. podcasts, videos or online exhibitions
  • Networking and lobbying: e.g. round tables, petitions or open letters

It is important that the project is developed from the participant’s own perspective, is realistic and deals with leadership in the context of disability, self-advocacy and inclusive civil society. The module offers plenty of space for reflection, experimentation and the development of individual, effective ideas.

There will be full-day face-to-face sessions in St. Pölten every 3-4 weeks – mainly on Fridays, occasionally also on Fridays and Saturdays. The sessions will start at 10 a.m. so that it is possible to travel there on the same day. In addition, there will be an online session once a week in the late afternoon. These online sessions will always be recorded so that you can watch them later.

The course starts on 31 October, and the exact dates will be confirmed before the summer at the latest.