150 participants discussed how well the Federal Participation Act is being implemented for people with disabilities at a symposium on February 11 at Fachhochschule Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts. The answer to this question cannot simply be measured, which is why the participants compiled their respective findings and assessments.
According to the World Health Organization, participation is "being included in a life situation". The Federal Participation Act of 2016 is intended to allow people with disabilities in Germany to be included in as many life situations as possible in several implementation phases. The aim of the symposium was to find out how well this has worked so far. With stakeholders from practice, science and politics. Stakeholders, some of whom live with a disability themselves.
"All equal" is not fair
Which individual measure has brought our society closer to which participation goal and by how much? It is impossible to say exactly. Instead, the participants discussed "conditions for success that are highly likely to lead to successful assistance for people with disabilities," explains Prof. Dr. Michael Boecker.
The Vice Dean of the Faculty of Applied Social Studies at Fachhochschule Dortmund organized the symposium together with Dr. Michael Weber from the Heilpädagogisches Zentrum in Krefeld and the state working group of workshops for people with disabilities in NRW. One example of such a condition for success is fair and therefore appreciative remuneration in workshops for people with disabilities.
The participants were largely able to agree on the necessity of these workshops, reports Prof. Boecker. Although the United Nations calls for the abolition of such "special worlds" in its Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and this is understandable from a human rights perspective, the workshops are still the only opportunity for meaningful employment for many people with disabilities.
Before the workshops are abolished, the "primary labor market" should therefore be changed so that it offers at least an equivalent opportunity. Inclusion does not mean "that all people have to be treated equally - which would even be very unfair - but that all people can choose between adequate alternatives."
As a further result of the symposium, Prof. Boecker mentions the realization that the measurability of participation services is a negotiation process that is influenced by interest politics and a very unevenly distributed power of definition among the actors, and in which not only professional but also economic aspects come into play.
Every perspective counts
"It was a very successful symposium," sums up Prof. Boecker. "We had to cancel many events in advance because we had reached our capacity limit. This shows the great importance of issues of participation. It is also very positive that people with disabilities took part as speakers and guests. It was precisely this multi-perspective view that was emphasized by many participants as extremely valuable." One thing became clear once again, emphasized Prof. Boecker: the questions of instruments, procedures and methods are important when it comes to the participation of people with disabilities, "but it is the attitude of the individual and society that can make a difference".
Many participants were in favor of continuing the series of these symposia at Fachhochschule Dortmund. Not only as a valuable opportunity for exchange between federal and state politicians and social welfare service providers, but also in the "domination-free space" of the university, which allows for controversial debates and can accommodate areas of tension between different convictions. And, very importantly, with the consistent involvement of the people concerned.
The people in the group photo, from left:
Thomas Haberl, Head of Staff Unit "Quality and Risk Management" in the LVR Department of Social Affairs; Anna-Lena Neufeld, M.A., Fachhochschule Dortmund; Moritz Bock, B.A., Fachhochschule Dortmund; Svenja Stepper, Chancellor of Fachhochschule Dortmund; Prof. Dr. Sebastian Noll, Mittweida University of Applied Sciences and Arts; Claudia Middendorf, State Government Commissioner for People with Disabilities and for Patients in North Rhine-Westphalia; Sina-Marie Levenig, M.A., Fachhochschule Dortmund; Prof. Dr. Michael Boecker, Fachhochschule Dortmund; Prof. Dr. Katja Nowacki, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Social Studies, Fachhochschule Dortmund; Dr. Michael Weber, Managing Director of Heilpädagogisches Zentrum Krefeld; Jürgen Kröger, Member of the Council of Spokespersons of LAG Werkstatträte NRW.