Besondere Sterne
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Melanie Matl sits at a bright wooden table, writing in a notebook.

Experience report

Au-Pair im Alltag

FiNiFuchs — Kinderhilfsmittel im AlltagsCheck, section „familienleben inklusiv“ · Subtitle „Unterstützung im inklusiven Familienleben“ · a report by Constanze Werdermann

Summary

How one family found their au pair — step by step

In the FiNiFuchs magazine, section „familienleben inklusiv“, a family describes their path to an au pair for their child with a disability. The report is written by Constanze Werdermann and carries the subtitle „Unterstützung im inklusiven Familienleben“.

It begins with the gap many families know: care that exists on paper and not in everyday life. Through their own community the family came across an agency specialising in children with a disability (see the quote below).

The report sets out the order of the steps: the first conversation, access to the profiles, getting to know each other over WhatsApp, and finally the decision. It also names the conditions a host family has to meet: a room of the au pair's own, and no more than 30 hours a week. It is just as clear about what an au pair is not — neither a nurse nor a specialist, but a young person who belongs to the family for a year.

Why that boundary matters is set out in detail under our services (in German). How getting to know each other works with us, and what a family needs to bring, is described under becoming a host family (in German).

The piece is one family's experience. On whether costs are covered, the funding body decides case by case — we say nothing about that.

Quotes

In the family’s own words

Through our community we found an agency that specialises in placing au pairs for children with disabilities: Au-Pair Agentur Besondere Sterne. (Translated)

Published by FiNiFuchs — Kinderhilfsmittel im AlltagsCheck, section „familienleben inklusiv“.

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. Aupair für Mädchen mit BehinderungA regional newspaper report on a family in Schorndorf whose second au pair from India supports their daughter, who has a disability.2 June 2026Schorndorfer NachrichtenPress (in German)
  5. „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)
  6. „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)
  7. 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)
  8. 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)
  9. 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)
  10. 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)
  11. 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)
  12. „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)
  13. 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)
  14. „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)
  15. 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)
  16. 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)
  17. 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)
  18. 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)
  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)