Center for self-determined
living for the disabled
Erlangen
Page in easy language
Nothing about us,
without us.
What we offer
Personal assistance
Personal assistance helps people with disabilities to live independently.
People can live where they want and organize their lives the way they want.
An assistant helps in many areas: with care, in the household and with personal tasks.
Advice.Education.Encounter
We advise on many topics relating to disability.
For example, letters from public authorities, forms, financial assistance, aids, barriers, personal problems and assistance.
We offer educational programs and meetings for all people.
There, people with and without disabilities can come together, talk to each other and learn from each other.
Supplementary independent participation advice
The Participation counseling Middle Franconia Northeast helps people with disabilities and people with long-term illnesses.
Relatives can also seek advice.
The consultation is free of charge, independent and secret.
We help with many topics, for example: Housing, assistance and care, work and training, partnership and family, leisure, aids, applications and rights.
The consultation is at eye level.
The advisors have a disability themselves.
The consultation can take place in the office, on the phone, by e-mail or at your home.
from September 2026
School and individual support
Die Schulbegleitung vom ZSL Erlangen hilft Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Behinderung oder mit drohender Behinderung.
So können sie möglichst selbstständig am Unterricht und am Schulleben teilnehmen.
Die Schulbegleitung hilft je nach Bedarf im Unterricht and in den Pausen.
Sie unterstützt dabei, dass die Kinder dazugehören and selbstständiger werden.
Wir arbeiten zusammen mit Eltern and Schule.
Wir helfen auch beim Antrag und klären die Kostenübernahme.
Current projects
Perspektivwechsel - Change of perspective
Our range shows how people with disabilities or chronic illnesses live.
In workshops, lectures and small exercises - for example with a wheelchair or blindfold - participants can gain their own experience.
This is how we promote understanding and compassion.
We inform schools, companies and groups about inclusion and accessibility and draw attention to what is important for this.
Alles was Recht ist - Everything about the law
The project helps people with disabilities to better understand and assert their rights.
We explain new rights and encourage people to express their own wishes and needs clearly.
We also inform public authorities and cost bearers about the lives of people with disabilities.
We also help lawyers to better understand the special legal problems of people with disabilities.
Herzensmensch - Kindhearted
People with disabilities have the same wishes as other people:
Love, friendship, sexuality and family.
However, it is often more difficult to find new contacts.
Or a partner outside their own environment.
With Herzensmensch - Kindhearted we help people with disabilities to do this,
partnership, sexuality, family and friendship.
Completed projects
You can also discover our previous projects: Many have now been completed, but their impact remains. Take a look back and see how ZSL Erlangen has helped shape inclusion, self-determination and accessibility over the years.
Current events
Events
Reviews
What customers and employees say about us
Team Rudi Flaig:
„We are a team at one of ZSL's long-standing customers. Several of us have been working for ZSL for many years. Some of us also work here as a second job. Our day-to-day work is varied, with tasks such as care, housework, accompanying people to therapy and leisure activities. We experience great appreciation and a lot of trust from the customer. It is important that the interpersonal relationship is right, as we often spend many hours together. We work in a good team with competent team leaders.
We particularly appreciate the working time models offered by ZSL, as these fit in well with our personal life plans.“
Manfred Schumann - Assistant to Rudi Flaig:
„For me, supporting my customers in organizing their everyday lives is an extremely meaningful activity. I've been with ZSL since 2012 because it represents self-determination as its overriding principle. In my job as a geriatric nurse, I experienced paternalism towards people in need of help more than enough, so I am glad that this is not the case here.“
Rudi Flaig - Customer:
„I'm Rudi Flaig, I've been with ZSL since 1998 and I have spasticity. I used to live in a care home. I didn't like it at all in the home and that's why a friend told me about ZSL. That's why I ended up at ZSL and the assistants make me feel very comfortable. Every assistant accepts me for who I am.“
Marie Sieger - customer and employee
„I'm Marie, 25 years old. I moved to Erlangen for my studies and have been living with assistance organized by the ZSL ever since. I have now completed my degree and am working on my doctoral thesis. The fact that this path was and is possible for me is largely thanks to organizations like the ZSL and the many dedicated and motivated assistants.
Assistance enables me to live and work independently and to organize my everyday life according to my needs. I don't take it for granted, but it is a key prerequisite for a self-determined life.
I am at ZSL because the focus here is on self-determination and at the same time a lot of organizational work is taken off my hands. The ZSL was set up and is run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities - you can feel that in everyday life. I particularly appreciate the wide range of assistance organization, advice, events and political work.
In addition to my role as a customer, I run training courses on topics such as the relationship between assistants and customers, self-determination and closeness and distance. I am also a member of the association council and contribute to the strategic development of ZSL.“
Ella Armstrong (assistant):
„Ella, 63 years young - I started working as an assistant for physically disabled people about 3 years ago, coming from a skilled trade (cook).
The move to ZSL was a heartfelt wish.
For me, my work is a give & take with heart & mind, as in any good relationship.“
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