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Press 2026

Aupair für Mädchen mit Behinderung

Schorndorfer Nachrichten, 2 June 2026 · by Barbara Pienek

Summary

Two questions the parents asked themselves first

The Schorndorfer Nachrichten report on a family from Schorndorf who took in an au pair for their daughter, who has a disability. Both parents teach with a full teaching workload, and the grandparents live too far away to help regularly.

Before deciding, the parents asked themselves two questions (see the quotes below). Only once both questions were answered with yes did they search online for an au pair with experience of people with a disability, which led them to Besondere Sterne.

Since autumn 2025 a twenty-three-year-old au pair from India has been living with the family, placed through our agency; the child is five years old. Above all, the article explains one thing: how this arrangement actually works day to day. The family's second au pair from India now lives with them. She takes the child to nursery, mostly picks her up again too, and accompanies her to therapy appointments that would otherwise clash with the parents' timetables. The article describes one family's experience. How a placement works with us is set out under ; what a host family needs to bring is described under .

our services (in German)becoming a host family (in German)

Beyond the article we add nothing. Names, diagnoses and details of family life appear here only where the newspaper itself published them.

Quotes

In the family’s own words

Do you want someone completely unfamiliar in your most private space? (Translated)

Do you trust a stranger with your child, who cannot say anything? (Translated)

The website was good, the meeting professional and pleasant. (Translated)

a huge relief (Translated)

Key points

What the article reports

  • Both parents teach with a full teaching workload; the grandparents live too far away to help regularly.
  • One reason the decision mattered to the family: the agency's founder has a child with a disability herself.
  • Alexander Bosch describes the first contact with the agency positively (see quote below).
  • The first au pair arrived in November 2024; after a positive experience, the family took in a second au pair from India the following autumn.
  • The au pair takes the child to nursery and accompanies her to therapy appointments — a great relief for the parents (see quote below).
  • The family's first au pair is now training in Germany to become a care assistant for older people.

Published by Schorndorfer Nachrichten on 2 June 2026.

Read on

Further publications

  1. „Ich kann euch Melanie Matl und ihre Agentur wärmstens empfehlen“The Cologne family blog „Willkommen bei den Wües“ warmly recommends Melanie Matl and her agency on Instagram.1 November 2025Instagram: willkommen_bei_den_wuesSocial media (in German)
  2. „Melanie Matl ist nicht nur Kinderbuchautorin“The Cologne association Süße Zitronen e.V. presents Melanie Matl's children's book on Instagram — and mentions her agency.26 June 2024Instagram: suessezitronen.e.vSocial media (in German)
  3. SFZ im Kreis Heinsberg stellt die Agentur vorA self-help and volunteer centre in the Heinsberg district presents the agency on its Facebook channel and links to our website.19 May 2026Facebook: SFZ Selbsthilfe- & Freiwilligen-Zentrum im Kreis HeinsbergMention (in German)
  4. „Unterstützung finden: Betreuungsangebote und deren Finanzierung für Familien mit Kindern mit Behinderung“A free online event by the Cologne association Süße Zitronen e.V. on care and funding options — with a short guest contribution by Melanie Matl.1 June 2026Süße Zitronen e.V., KölnProfessional event (in German)
  5. „Ich bin mutiger geworden“Part two of a newspaper series about an au pair from India, in interview with a host family in Plankstadt with three children.3 January 2026Lokalteil Plankstadt/EppelheimPress (in German)
  6. Melanie Matl aus Füssen ist Mutter einer Tochter mit Behinderung und kämpft für mehr InklusionA regional newspaper profile of Melanie Matl, the agency's founder, and her advocacy for inclusion.20 December 2025Kreisbote (Füssen)Press (in German)
  7. Au-pairs für Familien mit einem Kind mit BehinderungAn online information event held by the Schleswig-Holstein state association for people with physical and multiple disabilities, on au pairs in families with a child with a disability.22 January 2025Landesverband für körper- und mehrfachbehinderte Menschen Schleswig-Holstein e. V., KielProfessional event (in German)
  8. Folge 176 – Mit Melanie Matl über Inklusion & Au PairA podcast conversation with Melanie Matl about inclusion and about placing au pairs with families of children with disabilities.23 November 2024IN&OUTSIDE EO (Podcast)Interview (in German)
  9. Unsere Reise zur InklusionA guest article written by Melanie Matl herself — her own journey from her family's story and her children's book to founding the agency.28 August 2024Momo – Mobilität, Motion & BarrierefreiGuest article (in German)
  10. Au-Pair für Familien mit einem Kind mit Behinderung – wie geht das?Announcement of a talk for the Trisomie 21 Frankfurt association about au pairs for families with a child with a disability.13 June 202421malDREI – Initiative Trisomie 21 Frankfurt e. V.Professional event (in German)
  11. „Manchmal müssen wir wie Löwen kämpfen“The family questionnaire of the Lebenshilfe Zeitung: Melanie Matl on paperwork, participation and the origin of the agency.June 2024Lebenshilfe Zeitung, Ausgabe 2/2024, Seite 3Press (in German)
  12. Integrativer Spielplatz für alle Kinder in Füssen gefordertA regional newspaper report on the initiative by Melanie and Mark Matl for an inclusive playground in Füssen.19 October 2023Allgäuer ZeitungPress (in German)
  13. „Besondere Sterne“ im AWO-Familienstützpunkt in Füssen: Familien mit Behinderten treffen sichA report on the first meeting of the parent group founded by Melanie Matl at the AWO family support centre — the „Besondere Sterne“ in the title is this group, not the agency.19 January 2023Allgäuer ZeitungPress (in German)
  14. Williams-Beuren-Syndrom: Fernsehbeitrag bringt Mütter zusammenHow a television report brought together two mothers of children with Williams-Beuren syndrome.29 December 2021Allgäuer Zeitung, Kempten editionPress (in German)
  15. Begleitmaterial zum Stück „SIMPEL“ empfiehlt das KinderbuchThe Theater in Kempten recommends Melanie Matl's children's book in its introductory material for the play „SIMPEL“.May 2025Theater in KemptenMention (in German)
  16. Für weniger Ausgrenzung und BerührungsängsteA television report on Melanie Matl's children's book about inclusion. The video version is no longer publicly available.11 October 2021Allgäu TVPress (in German)
  17. Wenn Dazugehören ein Traum istA report on Melanie Matl's daughter and on how her children's book came about.15 September 2021Allgäuer ZeitungPress (in German)
  18. Au-Pair im AlltagA family's own account of their path to an au pair for their child with a disability — from the search through to the decision.no date givenFiNiFuchs — Kinderhilfsmittel im AlltagsCheck, section „familienleben inklusiv“Experience report (in German)
  19. Au pair Erfahrungen: Unser Jahr mit JamieA family blog's account of an au pair year — including how the family found their next au pair through Besondere Sterne.no date givenWillkommen bei den Wües (family blog)Experience report (in German)
  20. Mutige Mutter und couragierte KämpferinA magazine piece about Melanie Matl, her daughter and her children's book.no date given„von hier“, customer magazine of Feneberg, issue 39, pages 36–37Press (in German)
  21. Menschen von hier und heute: Melanie MatlA portrait of Melanie Matl and her children's book, published in a regional utility's customer magazine.no date given„heimatstark“, customer magazine of Allgäuer Kraftwerke, issue 01/2023, page 5Press (in German)
  22. Einen Stein ins Rollen gebrachtA report on Melanie Matl's campaign for the first inclusive playground in the region.no date givenAllgäuer Zeitung, Ausgabe FüssenPress (in German)
  23. Jeder ist einzigartigA review of Melanie Matl's children's book — a plea for warmth towards children who are different.no date givenAllgäuer ZeitungPress (in German)