Simply Inclusion Episode 7: Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities

In the seventh episode of her podcast " Inclusion " speaks Simone fischer with Hannes Schuster and Maria-Cristina Hallwachs, who says: "It is clear that they are rights that we humans with disabilities and not that we have to adapt again and again, but that it is the other way around. Nevertheless, it is necessary that we also get politically involved and show where there is a need for action."

Action plan for inclusion in the country further develop

Maria-Cristina Hallwachs lives in Stuttgart. She is 48 years old. Since a bathing accident at the age of 19, it has been paraplegic, lives with ventilation and uses an electrical (e) wheelchair. As one of many committed citizens, it acts actively at the state level to further develop the action plan for inclusion in Baden-Württemberg and achieve concrete measures to improve life situations.

Hannes Schuster is a project manager at Alliance for Baden-Württemberg e. V. The initiative was commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration with the organization and implementation of the participation process for the further development of the state action plan to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disability (UN) for the state government. Since November 28, 2022 to January 6, 2023, all citizens have been able to use the Online Portal of the State Government "Participation Portal Baden-Württemberg" and bring in your comments and ideas for a barrier-free and inclusive Baden-Württemberg.

Labor market for people with disabilities make it accessible

In conversation with Simone Fischer, it is about backgrounds on how this process is on, what goals he pursues and what effects people with disabilities hope for the new state action plan. Maria-Cristina Hallwachs reports recurring experiences, for example when children with disabilities are not allowed to visit the control kindergarten, how difficult it is to find barrier-free medical practices and health offers or how it works if people with disabilities do not find any work. She says: "The most urgent measure is actually to make the labor market accessible to people with disabilities. Work is simply a money earnings and disabled is expensive. But work also strengthens people with disabilities. It is part of our everyday life that you are working. If people with disabilities are strengthened in the area, they have both the money and inner strength to get along well in life."

The update of the state action plan is intended to define concrete measures to reduce barriers and to determine a strategy of how the topics of accessibility, self-determination and participation in Baden-Württemberg are processed in the coming years.

achieve concrete effects and improvements

Simone Fischer, representative of the state government for the concerns of people with disabilities says: "It is important to use the opportunity from this process and finally experience people concrete effects and improvements in their everyday life. All responsible ministries work with it. Participation creates visibility and normality. It is important that people with disabilities help shape and experience that their commitment is successful."

In six working groups, people with disabilities and the respective employees of the ministries discuss problems and solutions that affect the living situation of the citizens. Maria-Cristina Hallwachs describes practical and impressive examples from the area of daycare, health and mobility, which make it clear with which challenges people with disabilities are still confronted in everyday life. It shows where there is an urgent remedy.

The results will be brought together in the coming year, with which state advisory board with people with Disabilities coordinated and handed over to the state government. By 2026, further concrete measures are said to have been launched that improve the life situation of people with disabilities.

The podcast "Participation creates society. Simply inclusion" is on all common platforms such as Spotify Or Deezer . On YouTube are a translation in sign language as well as subtitles .

international day with disabilities

Simone Fischer releases the podcast on December 3, the online State action plan for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities

Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration: Inclusion/ UN Disabled Rights Convention

European Commission: UN Convention on the rights of people with disabilities