ÖZIV - Vorarlberg Provincial Association

Updated: Jul 17, 2022

Advocacy for people with disabilities

The ÖZIV is an Austria-wide, party-politically independent organisation for people with disabilities. ÖZIV - Landesverband Vorarlberg was founded in 1975 and, with around 1,000 members, is one of the largest interest groups for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses in the country. We are largely financed by donations and membership fees and are supported by our volunteer officials.

Our goal is to enable the self-determined and equal lifestyle of people with disabilities.

OUR OFFERS

Auxiliary equipment rental

With us you will find a wide range of different aids such as

E-scooters/e-wheelchairs
Stair climbing devices (stair crawler, Liftkar)
Wheelchairs / wheelchairs with pushing aid
Rollators
Patient lifts etc.

These aids can be borrowed from us inexpensively and unbureaucratically - the prerequisite is membership in our interest group (exception for holiday guests). We are also the right contact for you in case of temporary "impairments" due to operations, accidents, etc.!

Social counselling

In the Bregenz provincial secretariat we offer counselling and support on the following topics by appointment (Tel. 05574 455 79): Pension applications, appeals, disabled persons' pass, applications to become a beneficiary of the disabled, EU parking permits, applications for handicapped-accessible conversions / vehicle purchases and adaptations, exemptions and reductions, etc.

SUPPORT Coaching

ÖZIV SUPPORT is a support service for people with physical

for people with physical and/or sensory disabilities as well as chronic illness and special difficulties

in the labour market.

The offer is financed by the Social Ministry Service and can be taken advantage of free of charge from a degree of disability (GdB) of 50 %.

SUPPORT Coaching promotes one's own abilities and helps to find new perspectives in one's working and private life. www.oeziv.org/support

Support contact details

Counselling Centre Dornbirn

Dipl. life and social counsellor

Daniela Sichau

Rathausplatz 4 / 2nd floor room 14

Tel: 05572/ 39 46 96

Fax: 05572/ 39 47 37

Mobile: 0699/ 1566 0601

daniela.sichau@oeziv-vorarlberg.at

Counselling Centre Bludenz

Dipl. Coach Harald Reiter

Werdenbergerstrasse 40a

Tel: 05552/ 63 877

Fax: 05552/ 63 887

Mobile: 0699/ 1566 0600

harald.reiter@oeziv-vorarlberg.at

Public relations

We carry out public relations work, among other things, with information stands at trade fairs (in addition free wheelchair rental), network meetings, social media, workshops and with information and newspaper mailings to our members. Among other things, we also campaign for the removal or avoidance of structural barriers and act as mediators/advisors for a wide range of enquiries.

Awareness-raising

Various schools in Vorarlberg visit us and borrow wheelchairs from our depot to explore the city and its surroundings. Afterwards, we are available as "experts in our own business" to answer the pupils' questions. On tours of the Landhaus, our president is also a guide in the "opportunities team" and strives to reduce the pupils' fear of contact.

ROLLODROM - Our wheelchair trail

The Rollodrome is a wheelchair experience course, can be rented for various events (fairs etc.) and is used for awareness-raising purposes. On around 100m², people without disabilities can "experience" the world from the perspective of a wheelchair user.

Architectural obstacles that people with disabilities are confronted with on a daily basis, such as ramps, inclined levels, gravel and cobblestone paving, are suddenly strength-sapping and hardly surmountable hurdles!

The aim is to raise public awareness of the difficulties faced by impaired people in general and wheelchair users in particular.

Community events

We organise various events for our members such as a carnival party, wheelchair dance workshop, company tours, day of reflection, annual outing/short trips and Christmas party.

ÖZIV legal database

Online legal database and free information on legal topics relevant to people with disabilities

www.oeziv.org/rechtsdatenbank

ÖZIV Barrier Check

A service of the WKO and ÖZIV to determine the accessibility in companies

www.barriere-check.at