The SBV must ensure that the laws and regulations applicable to severely disabled persons are complied with.

The SBV is obliged to maintain confidentiality about the personal circumstances and affairs of university employees that become known in the course of its duties and that require confidential treatment due to their significance or content (Section 179 (7) SGB IX).

The SBV acts in an advisory and supportive capacity in all matters that affect an individual severely disabled person or severely disabled persons as a group as well as their equals.

The following assistance can be provided:

• Support with applications to the pension office to obtain a degree of disability (GdB).
• Support with applications to the Employment Agency for equal opportunities.
• Assistance with appeals procedures.
• Support and advice during recruitment and appointment procedures, provided that severely disabled or equivalent persons have applied. The SBV ensures that the selection procedure is free of discrimination and that severely disabled persons are given preferential consideration when filling vacancies if they are suitable or equally suitable.
• Promoting the integration of severely disabled people into the organisation.
• Advice on equipping workplaces for the disabled.
• Applying for assistance from the relevant authorities in order to facilitate integration into the workplace.
• Providing information on external offers of assistance (e.g. integration office, employment agency, pension insurance).
• Receiving suggestions and complaints in order to find a mutually satisfactory solution together with those responsible.
• Participation in staff and BEM meetings with severely disabled people.
• Accompanying discussions and counselling in the event of problems at the workplace.

The SBV is a one-person representative body with currently five elected deputies.
As an independent institution, it works closely with the Staff Council and is not bound by the employer's instructions.

The legal basis is provided by the German Social Code (SGB IX), the Disability Equality Act, the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), the guidelines on the equal and self-determined participation of severely disabled people and people of equal status in working life in the public sector and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). We also comply with the inclusion agreement concluded in 2022 between the Presidential Board, the Staff Council and the Representative for Employees with Disabilities. This can be viewed on the administration portal and in the Official Notices https://uol.de/amtliche-mitteilungen?suche=inklusionsvereinbarung

The SBV takes part in the Staff Council meetings. It also participates in the Staff Council's working groups on topics that affect severely disabled people (e.g. occupational health and safety, publicity, employee-manager meetings).