Advisory Board Augsburg: New ways of inclusion and accessibility

Advisory Board Augsburg: New ways of inclusion and accessibility

Augsburg, Deutschland - In Augsburg, the disabled advisory board has newly constituted. Around 40,000 people with handicap find hearing in this interested and independent representation. The advisory board works on a voluntary basis and advises the city council and the administration on central questions of inclusion. Claudia Nickl takes over again and is supported by a round of committed department spokesman: Carmen Sturm takes care of building and living, Marion Wöhrl is responsible for work and profession, Bernd Schneider brings a breath of fresh air to communication, Nicole Oehler represents social services and Heike Rabas stands for school, education, culture and sport.

The social officer Schenkelberg emphasizes the important role of the advisory board for inclusion. The six departments are intended to cover all relevant topics. The upcoming closed conference in October will be particularly exciting, which offers members the opportunity to determine the focus for the coming term. Interested? The next public meeting of the overall advisory board will take place on November 13th at 5:30 p.m. in the Jakobssaal.

traffic and accessibility in focus

An outstanding topic that is on the agenda of the disabled advisory board is the barrier -free traffic planning. All new plans are presented to the advisory board, which is an essential element of inclusion in the city. In Augsburg, the implementation of accessibility, especially in the historic old town, is often a challenge. There was an incident in a tram extension in which wheelchairs got stuck. In order to avoid such mishaps in the future, clear steps have already been taken, such as the early inclusion of citizens and regular meetings with the municipal utilities.

Augsburg has developed an inclusion action plan in recent years, which also includes improvements for people with different disabilities. The topics of digital accessibility, pictograms and language play a central role. The discussion about accessibility is not only in traffic, but also in the cultural area of importance, where the accessibility to events is often restricted.

The struggle for accessibility in Germany

In Germany, an estimated 7.9 million people live with a severe disability, which makes up almost 10% of the population. The UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities emphasizes the social participation of people with disabilities as a human right, but the need to catch up is great. This is particularly evident in the field of education: The slow reduction of the special school system and the lack of personnel and suitable equipment make it difficult to implement inclusion in schools. A survey among teachers shows that over 60% consider inclusion to be desirable, but just under 30% believe that it can be practically implemented.

In addition, many medical practices are not completely barrier -free, which further complicates access for people with other disabilities. There are numerous initiatives that work towards improving inclusion, but implementation often leaves something to be desired. The demands are louder that the private sector must also be made more obliged to create barrier -free structures and to take the expertise seriously.