Publications

Research that
moves things.

Guidelines, feasibility studies, and research outputs from BIRNE7 projects — built in partnership with organisations including ESA, Aktion Mensch, and Decentrale.

Feasibility Study English

Accessibility on a Lunar Base — Feasibility Study

Co-authored with ESA's Advanced Concepts Team at ESTEC, this study investigates what it would take to design a lunar habitat that is genuinely accessible to astronauts with physical disabilities. Seven disability experts were interviewed to identify ten inaccessible elements in current habitat designs — and to propose concrete alternatives grounded in universal design principles.

In partnership with
Read on ResearchGate ESA Project Page Read our article

Citation: Sattler, A., Schulz, C., Jung, J., Schroth, S., & Gómez, P. (2023). Accessibility on a Lunar Base — Feasibility Study. ESA Advanced Concepts Team / ResearchGate.

Practical Guideline Originally in German

Accessible eLearning — Guide for Trainers

A practical guide for trainers and course creators on designing and delivering accessible digital learning experiences. Developed in collaboration with Aktion Mensch and Decentrale, it covers inclusive content structures, clear language, and interaction patterns that work for learners with a wide range of access needs — from screen reader users to people with cognitive impairments.

In partnership with Decentrale GbR
Read the guide (German)
Technical Guideline Originally in German

Accessible eLearning — Guide for Developers

A technical companion guide for developers building digital learning systems and eLearning content. Developed with Aktion Mensch and Decentrale, it addresses accessible markup, ARIA patterns, keyboard navigation, assistive technology compatibility, and implementation standards that ensure learning platforms work for everyone — including users of screen readers, switch access devices, and other assistive tools.

In partnership with Decentrale GbR
Read the guide (German)

Self-learning Courses

Alongside the published guidelines, BIRNE7 co-developed three free self-paced courses with Aktion Mensch and Decentrale GbR — hosted on the Aktion Mensch eLearning platform. All courses are free of charge, can be paused and resumed, and are designed to be accessible by default. All courses are taught in German.

Wegweiser zur ArbeitGuide to Employment
~10 hours In German Free

Employment rights for people with disabilities — which agencies are involved, what support is available, and how to navigate the system from first contact to the workplace.

Open course →
Barrierefreie Dokumente erstellenCreating Accessible Documents
~8 hours In German Free

How to create accessible PDFs, presentations, and spreadsheets in MS Office and LibreOffice — including verification techniques to check accessibility before publishing.

Open course →
Einfache Sprache lernenLearning Simple Language
~10 hours Free In German

Writing techniques in simple language (Einfache Sprache), how it differs from plain language, and how to apply it in practice — for communicators, content creators, and public-facing organisations.

Open course →
Go to the Aktion Mensch eLearning platform