ERASMUS CHANGING LIVES OPENING MINDS fOR 25 YEARS

René
Kremser
‘Obstacles are there to be overcome’
Home institution:
Vorarlberg University of Applied
Sciences, Austria
Host institution:
VAMK, University of Applied
Sciences, Finland
Field of study:
Social work
Duration:
5 months (2005)
Before going to Finland, René Kremser had always lived in boarding schools or
with his parents. The Erasmus exchange offered him the chance to live independently.
As someone who is blind and uses a wheelchair, everyone knew that
special arrangements would be needed. Fortunately both his home and host
universities wanted to make the placement work. For him, ‘it was important to
try things out – even when you think you cannot do it. It is worth trying things
out, if you really want to do something.’
Going abroad required the appointment of a full time personal assistant.
Through an advertisement in the local newspaper, he interviewed and
appointed an assistant from Austria to accompany him to Finland. This enabled
him to live independently for the first time. While there are many obstacles
to overcome, he recommends that other students with disabilities go
abroad as it helps you ‘to learn to fight for things as well as learn about other
countries and cultures.’
Whilst abroad, he combined study at university with practical placements. ‘This
helped me to experience a wide range of institutions and gain a broad view on
Finland’s approach to disability.’ As the appointment of personal assistants is
rare in Finland, his experience provided a focus for his dissertation and has
informed his work on supporting people with learning disabilities.
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