Herbert Sedlmeier: A life for inclusion and solidarity ends tragically

Herbert Sedlmeier: A life for inclusion and solidarity ends tragically

A man who dedicated his life to inclusion has passed away: Herbert Sedlmeier died at the age of 68. As a city councilor and social officer in Germering, he campaigned for people with disabilities for decades. Born in 1957 with a genetic defect known as brittle bone disease, “inclusion” was an unknown concept in his childhood. At a time when he was rejected by school authorities and health insurance companies, it was his brother Georg who taught him to read, write and do arithmetic.

What is particularly noteworthy is that Herbert was accepted into the first grade after a school entry test and was even later transferred to the third. His career seemed challenging at first, but he overcame all the hurdles and left school with his secondary school leaving certificate to join the Germering city administration. He worked in various offices for almost 40 years, particularly in the youth, family and social welfare offices. He also took on the position of chairman of the staff council and representative for the disabled for the district. Sedlmeier was a voice of reason and tirelessly campaigned for accessibility and the interests of his fellow human beings.

A man of commitment

He has represented the CSU on the city council since 1996, but does not plan to run again. In addition to his political activity, he was also active in culture and ran the Unterpfaffenhofen farmers' stage, where he organized theater performances and the Germeringer Strong Beer Festival. The person behind the politician lived independently in his own apartment and traveled a lot, which reflects his joy of life and openness. Tragically, he died as a result of an accident, which deeply affected many in Germering.

Against the background of this personal story, it is important to look at the general situation of people with disabilities in Germany. At the end of 2023, around 7.9 million people with severe disabilities lived in Germany, which corresponds to almost 10% of the population. Despite legal progress, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which calls for equal rights, there is still a huge amount of catching up to do in terms of inclusion. The obstacles in everyday life are varied: from a lack of accessibility in schools to the job market to cultural events, numerous hurdles have to be overcome. According to a Forsa survey, over 60% of teachers believe in the need for inclusion, but only 30% think it is practical.

The path to inclusion

The current situation makes it clear that many barriers do not arise from individual impairments, but from social conditions. The overview of inclusion shows that the employment participation of people with disabilities also differs from 53% in 2017 to 81% for people without disabilities. Although there is government funding for professional inclusion, implementation is often complicated and characterized by a lack of personnel and resources. This is reinforced by the fact that access to cultural events and artistic professions is often limited for people with disabilities.

In this context, there are calls for more legal obligations to be placed on the private sector regarding accessibility. Developments in disability policy must be constantly advanced in order to fulfill the political mandate of social participation and combat discrimination. The high number of people who are dependent on integration assistance - there were over a million in 2023 - shows the urgent need for comprehensive social inclusion.

Herbert Sedlmeier's life and commitment are not only an example of personal commitment in the area of ​​inclusion, but also an urgent appeal not to lose sight of the challenges that people with disabilities face. His efforts will be remembered not only in Germering but far beyond. “A life of inclusion” was not only his motto, but his purpose.