Summary
The Federal Office for the Equality of Persons with Disabilities (EBGB) launched a free online self-test on June 30, 2026. This enables counseling centers to assess the accessibility of their services for violence-affected persons. The test was developed by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, the Sensability association, and the Liip agency. Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by violence – in particular, women with disabilities experience psychological, physical, and sexual violence two to three times more frequently than women without disabilities.
Persons
- Roth Franziska (Postulator; Parliament)
Topics
- Accessibility
- Violence Prevention
- Persons with Disabilities
- Social Counseling
- Istanbul Convention
Clarus Lead
The self-test addresses a critical protection gap: many aid and counseling services are practically inaccessible to persons with disabilities – missing elevators, phone-only contact options, or non-accessible websites systematically exclude target groups. The initiative implements parliamentary demands and international obligations (Istanbul Convention) and signals that accessibility is not optional but a prerequisite for effective violence protection. This obligates cantons and municipalities to review their existing structures.
Detailed Summary
The online test uses a spider diagram format to visualize improvement needs and offers concrete implementation tips as well as references to further resources. The platform addresses specific accessibility barriers: mobility disabilities (lack of elevators), deafness (phone-only contacts), blindness (missing website accessibility), low literacy skills (need for plain language), and neurodiversity (need for low-stimulation counseling settings).
Epidemiological data underscores the urgency: 25 to 50 percent of women with disabilities report sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence. This vulnerability is exacerbated by structural barriers that hinder access to protective services. The test is currently available in German and French; the Italian version will follow in autumn 2026.
Key Messages
- Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by violence; women with disabilities experience psychological, physical, and sexual violence two to three times more frequently than women without disabilities
- Existing counseling and protective services are often not accessible and thus systematically exclude vulnerable groups
- The free self-test enables counseling centers to easily assess their accessibility and offers concrete improvement measures
Critical Questions
Evidence Quality: What scientific studies underlie the violence statistics, and how representative are the figures (25–50% sexual abuse) for the Swiss population with disabilities?
Compliance Mechanisms: Is participation in the self-test mandatory or voluntary for counseling centers, and are there sanctions for failure to meet accessibility standards?
Implementation Barriers: What resources (personnel, budget, training) do counseling centers need to actually implement the improvement measures identified in the test?
Monitoring: How is it verified that counseling centers implement the test recommendations, and does an evaluation mechanism exist to measure effectiveness?
Intersectionality: Does the test also consider intersectional dimensions (migration, age, gender identity) that can further increase violence risks?
Language Access: To what extent is the test itself available in plain language or with audio descriptions to reach persons with cognitive or visual impairments?
Source Directory
Primary Source: Federal Office for the Equality of Persons with Disabilities (EBGB) – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/aCRLXyjChhNDfMmjlITeA
Supplementary Sources:
- Motion 20.3886 Roth Franziska – Violence against Persons with Disabilities
- National Action Plan for Implementation of the Istanbul Convention
- Accessible Counseling Services – Self-Test (EBGB): https://www.ebgb.admin.ch/de/barrierefreie-beratungsangebote-informationen-und-selbsttest
Verification Status: ✓ 30.06.2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 30.06.2026