Country information for Austria - Systems of support and specialist provision

  1. Before applying special educational needs (SEN): make use of all possible support measures at school – from the pre-school level to the repetition of the school year, from internal differentiation to the use of mobile counselling teachers or school psychology.
  2. After approving SEN: personnel resources.

Normally integrative/inclusive classes are taught by the compulsory school teachers and a teacher specialised in inclusive education with a focus on special pedagogy. These are granted on the basis of the learners’ need for support.

Depending on the legislation of the individual federal state, pedagogical assistance can also be acquired to support the pedagogical work.

On 1 January 2019, the Specialist Department for Inclusion, Diversity and Special Needs Education was established to provide multi-professional expertise and measures to support and promote learners in the school system. The department is based across the provincial offices of the Directorate of Education. Its goal is to increase the overall effect of support, and to enable learners to have a more successful education regardless of their social background, gender, talents, migration background, first language or disability.

A link between school and the labour market for learners with SEN

Vocational preparation year at special schools

The vocational preparation year at special schools provides young people with basic skills, abilities and knowledge to help them enter their working and professional life. It enables learners to develop personal life and career perspectives and assesses company work from the perspective of both employees and employers.

Information, counselling and orientation for education and career in (compulsory) schools

This covers all measures for educational and vocational orientation in schools:

  • development of basic skills for making independent decisions in the teaching of compulsory subjects;
  • vocational orientation lessons with a focus on grades 7 and 8, or 11 and 12;
  • practical experience in projects and real-life encounters;
  • individual information and advice from student and educational advisors;
  • accompaniment by school and teachers in co-operation with parents (legal guardians) with the involvement of external experts.

Vocational Assistance Network (Netzwerk Berufliche Assistenz, NEBA)

The Vocational Assistance Network provides a very differentiated and needs-based system to support people with disabilities and young people at risk of exclusion. With the Social Ministry Service as a central actor and cost bearer, the offer can be well controlled and developed according to the needs. A broad range of providers ensures that individual needs are met and it has become a factor in labour market policy.

The network includes offers such as Vocational Assistance Network, Vocational Assistantships, youth coaching, work assistance and job coaching.

English information can be downloaded from the NEBA website and the respective offers (e.g. youth coaching, job coaching, etc.).

Updated 15/09/2020

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