New Advisory Council for the Disabled in Lübeck: Vote for yourself!

New Advisory Council for the Disabled in Lübeck: Vote for yourself!

An important election is coming up in the Hanseatic city of Lübeck: On June 30, 2025, citizens will elect a new advisory board for the disabled. The existing advisory board, which has been active for five years and represents around 26,000 people with disabilities, has established itself as a decisive voice for the concerns of those affected. The new term of office brings with it some changes: The advisory board will be expanded from the original 8 to 12 seats in the future, with legal representatives of children and young people with disabilities also becoming part of the board. On Monday, Lübeck residents are invited to cast their votes and take part in this important election, which will take place in the town hall in the Große Börse at 3 p.m. Anyone who wants to take part needs a valid identity card and proof of the degree of disability, as only people with a disability level of at least 20 who have lived in Lübeck for at least three months are eligible to vote.

A total of 22 candidates have stood for the election, including 7 women - two of them as legal representatives - and 15 men, one of whom also acts as a legal representative. The six applicants of both genders who receive the most votes will be elected. It is particularly worth mentioning that the work of the Advisory Council for the Disabled is voluntary and politically neutral in order to objectively represent the interests of all disabled citizens.

Functions and challenges of the advisory board

The Disability Advisory Board has a wide range of tasks, mainly focused on improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. He has the right to speak and make proposals in the citizenry and the political committees and promotes participation in the creation of a barrier-free environment. This includes, among other things, the planning of public spaces, local transport design and the enforcement of strict regulations to minimize risks for people with walking difficulties and visual impairments, such as when parking electric scooters.

Lübeck is thus responding to the needs and challenges that people with disabilities encounter in everyday life. A good example of this is the introduction of 35 new sharing stations for electric scooters in the city center and around the main train station, which are scheduled to go into operation at the beginning of July. These measures aim to promote the mobility and independence of people with disabilities and thus improve their participation in social life.

Political framework and inclusion

The current Disability Advisory Council has more rights and opportunities to influence political decision-making than the previous Disability Advisory Council had. This was decided by the citizens in a public election meeting in 2020. The advisory board's regular meetings usually take place every second Wednesday of the month, where important issues are discussed and decisions are made. The discussions are also open to interested citizens who can contact the Advisory Board office.

Overall, national initiatives also reflect the trend towards improving living conditions for people with disabilities. The Federal Government's participation report, which is prepared every legislative period, clearly shows that there is a need for action in various life situations such as education and employment. Around 90% of people with disabilities see an urgent need to improve accessibility. The call for participation and participation is therefore also of central importance at the local level in order to address these challenges - a goal to which the new advisory board for people with disabilities is committed.

For further information, please contact the Disabled Advisory Board office at (0451) 122-4511 or by email disabledbeirat@luebeck.de available. The path to improving participation and inclusion is a shared endeavor, and every voice counts in the coming election.