Inclusion tackles us all: Koblenz sets signs of social participation!

Inclusion tackles us all: Koblenz sets signs of social participation!

On May 4, 2025, the day of inclusion took place in Koblenz. This event offered visitors the opportunity to find out more about including offers and to become active themselves. Visitors were able to gain practical experience in lively hands-on activities that conveyed a feeling for how people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are doing in loud cafés. Such simulations provide valuable insights into the reality of life of people with disabilities. At the event locations, the Zentralplatz and the Mittelrhein forum, representatives of associations, associations and companies presented their inclusive offers, which represent an important step towards social participation. The Rhein-Zeitung reports that the day of inclusion was an example of how information and exchange about accessibility and inclusion in everyday life can be funded.

The day of inclusion also fell on the World Braille Day, which celebrates the invention of the braille by Louis Braille in 1825. This font enables blind and visually impaired people an active participation in social life and in their studies. Heinz Willi Bach, second chairman of the German Association of Blind and Visually Impaired people in their studies and work, reported that studying was easier today than 30 to 40 years ago. Nevertheless, there are still challenges, especially in the field of information technology. Many modern learning platforms such as "Ilias" are often not barrier -free. Deutschlandfunk informed that high-quality computers, voice editions and blind lines are still necessary for blind people, and that assistance services are not fully accessible.

challenges in the education system

The social problems of inclusion are far from solved. Around 7.9 million people with severe disabilities live in Germany at the end of 2023, which is almost ten percent of the population. The UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities recognizes the participation of people with disabilities as a human right and demands equal participation in all areas of life. This includes access to education, information, transport and cultural life. Reports of Deutschlandfunk show that there were still major challenges in the field of education, especially in the form of separate school systems.

The exclusion rate in schools dropped from 4.8 % in 2008/09 to 4.2 % in 2022/23, but the need to catch up remains enormous. At the same time, access to medical care is problematic, as only 50 % of outpatient medical practices were barrier -free at the end of 2023. Only 44 % of the practices meet the criteria for people with restricted mobility. Verena Bentele, the Federal Government's disability officer, calls for rethinking in the company and a stronger legal obligation to access the accessibility. She emphasizes that targeted job search for people with disabilities is essential.