Prof. Dr. Monika Möhring was voted as executive director of the BliZ centre for blind and visually impaired students of the THM. She accedes the office of her predecessor and founder of the BliZ, Prof. Dr. Erdmuthe Mexer zu Bexten, who will henceforth deal with the digital accessibility in Hessia in a central position as state representative of accessible IT.

Andreas Deitmer will remain deputy, as he has been for the past years. Deitmer, a blind master’s degree alumni of the THM himself, is very familiar with all sorts of possible barriers for students with visual impairments and does not only provide consultation but also supports them with the entire BliZ team in order to diminish these barriers.

Since 2013, Prof. Möhring is professor for logistics, supply chain management and innovation at the THM. Prior to that she has had IT- and management positions in the industry and put her focus on innovations in the area of Industry 4.0. She represents her specialist field in international research publications, as well as in close collaboration with the industry. Additionally, as of 2014, Prof. Möhring engages as the severely handicapped employee representative of the THM. The focus of Prof. Möhring’s lies on the relationship management with hessian senior classes that include blind and visually impaired students. The currently 11 employees of the BliZ are equipped with many years of experience in counselling visually impaired students in regard to which study at the THM will be ideal for them and the career perspectives that come with the study. The THM provides blind and visually impaired students a vast amount of technical and organisational help. The BLiZ employees rework materials to make them accessible and design the exam situations disability-friendly and individual. In this connection, the BliZ closely works with the training staff to assure that the study experience of visually impaired students doesn’t vary too much in regard to content and learning experience from those of other students.

Not least, the BliZ assists in agency of internships and helps with job hunt after a successful graduation. A vast number of visually impaired alumni of the THM being employed in sophisticated positions after their study, clearly showcases the success-rate of the Centre and the engagement of its employees. Due to her research and industrial experience in the area of Industry 4.0, the new executive director deeply cares about the development of modern aid tools for blind and visually impaired people. PDF-documents, but also web contents are, contrary to the frequent opinion, still far too seldomly 100% accessible. Much developmental and convictional work is required to be accomplished to leastwise provide accessibly designed learning materials for blind and visually impaired students. Additionally, new technologies for aid tools offer the possibility for visually impaired people to live an independent life. The continuation of collaboration on technological research projects with further institutes and the industry is an important pillar in her future work at the BliZ.