Review: Summer School 2025 in Vienna
The second edition of the Accessible Barrier-Free Inclusive Cross-Border Public Transport Summer School took place from 7 to 11 July 2025 at WU Vienna, complemented by two virtual program days on 1 and 22 July.
Hosted by the European Platform of Transport Sciences (EPTS), the event was organised by the Austrian Association in Support of the Blind and Visually Impaired together with the Institute for Transport and Logistics Management of WU Vienna, and supported by the University of Žilina.
From nearly 100 applications, 30 students from diverse academic fields and levels, representing 16 countries, were selected.
Learning through knowledge
In line with the motto of the European Disability Forum (EDF) – “Nothing about us without us” – people with and without disabilities actively contributed as lecturers and mentors.
The Summer School began with expert lectures on legal frameworks, fundamentals of disability studies, and aspects of accessible mobility. These highlighted the importance of involving people with disabilities early in planning processes. One of the many highlights of the 2025 Summer School was the panel discussion at the premises of the Austrian Association in Support of the Blind and Visually Impaired in Jägerstraße (Vienna), where people with disabilities shared their first-hand experiences in public transport. These personal insights gave students a vivid understanding of how barriers affect everyday life.
Hands-on self-experience
A particularly powerful element was the hands-on self-experience: using simulation glasses, blindfolds, canes, wheelchairs, and special simulation suits, students placed themselves in the position of people with disabilities and directly experienced barriers. After preparatory exercises in a safe environment, participants were given the practical challenge of planning and carrying out a cross-border journey using public transport.
This journey led them to Bratislava, where they gained valuable real-life experience at the airport, on trams, and in urban spaces. Their impressions were later captured in posters and presentations, which were reflected upon and discussed in joint sessions.
Impact and outlook
“The success of the Summer School lies in the fact that students take these experiences back to their home countries and into their future professions as ambassadors of accessibility. This way, Europe becomes a little more barrier-free,” summarised Prof. Fürst.
The posters and presentations clearly demonstrated that participants had internalized the importance of accessibility. They showed not only an understanding of accessibility principles but also the ability to reflect and apply them in practice.
Overall, the second edition of the Summer School proved to be a great success and set new standards for the Summer School 2026!