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

Professional event 2026

„Unterstützung finden: Betreuungsangebote und deren Finanzierung für Familien mit Kindern mit Behinderung“

Süße Zitronen e.V., Köln, 1 June 2026 · Online event, free of charge · guest contribution by Melanie Matl

Summary

An evening on care, funding — and a guest contribution

Süße Zitronen e.V. from Cologne hosted the online event „Unterstützung finden: Betreuungsangebote und deren Finanzierung für Familien mit Kindern mit Behinderung“ on 1 June 2026, from 6 pm to 7.30 pm. The event was free of charge; the association's speakers were Stefanie Daniel and Annika Eppmann. Süße Zitronen is a Cologne-based association that advises and supports families with a child with a disability — founded in 2017 and carrying this name since 2019.

The event informed about care and relief options as well as financial support, with room for questions and exchange. It was aimed at parents and relatives of children with a disability.

In addition, there was a short guest contribution by Melanie Matl, founder of the au pair agency „Besondere Sterne“. She presented her work and gave insights into a particular form of support close to families in the everyday life of families with children with a disability. Melanie Matl was a guest at this event, not its speaker.

What Melanie Matl outlined there in brief is set out in full on this website: how a placement works under our services (in German) and the amounts on the costs (in German) page.

On funding we deliberately say nothing here: whether a public body contributes, and how much, is decided case by case. Independent EUTB counselling centres advise on this.

Key points

What the article reports

  • Online event by Süße Zitronen e.V., Cologne, on 1 June 2026, 6 pm to 7.30 pm, free of charge.
  • The association's speakers: Stefanie Daniel and Annika Eppmann.
  • Topics: care and relief options as well as financial support, with room for questions and exchange.
  • Short guest contribution by Melanie Matl on the work of Besondere Sterne — she was a guest, not the event's speaker.

Organised by Süße Zitronen e.V., Köln, 1 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. 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. „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)