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Inclusion in the elections: "Even one level is usually too high"

2021-09-27T00:39:48.677Z


In the Bundestag elections, for the first time, assisted persons are also allowed to cast their votes - an important step towards inclusion. However, many people with disabilities still encounter barriers in voting.


Read the video transcript here

All adult Germans can cast their vote on Sunday.

But really all of them?

In 2017, around 85,000 people were still excluded from voting: all with a so-called »legal supervisor«.

Many of them have learning difficulties or a disability.

Two years ago the Federal Constitutional Court overturned this discriminatory law.

It violates the Basic Law.

In this general election, everyone can vote for the first time.

The activist Natalie Dedreux campaigns for people with Down syndrome.

We talked to her about the new law.

Katharina Zingerle, DER SPIEGEL:

“Now everyone can vote.

How do you find that?"

Natalie Dedreux, activist:

“I feel extremely better that everyone can vote today.

We have rights! "

Natalie has very specific demands that go beyond the mere right to vote.

Natalie Dedreux, activist:

»It is very important that we people with disabilities also get a minimum wage in any case.

I still have to improve that a bit.

What also needs to improve is inclusion, at work and so on. "

Natalie's particular concern is the so-called "easy language" that everyone understands.

Katharina Zingerle, DER SPIEGEL:

"These ballot papers are not yet available in easy language?"

Natalie Dedreux, activist:

"No, unfortunately not.

I have to say that again because there is a petition about it now.

We started it and we just wanted news to be in easy language every day.

And that's just very, very important and, on the other hand, that we come with you. "

The way to the ballot box is also often a challenge for people with physical disabilities.

We are now going to Hamburg-Harburg and there we meet Sylvia Pille-Steppat.

She is in a wheelchair and shows us her polling station, where she will vote on Sunday and why exactly that is not barrier-free.

Sylvia Pille-Steppat, architect:

“It's about ten centimeters.

And now I just need help to get up there.

Somebody would have to hold me back a bit and then push me up. "

There is also a mobile ramp here, but only one for two polling stations.

Sylvia Pille-Steppat, architect:

“Even one step is usually too high.

We saw it there: ten centimeters, you just can't get up there on your own.

And that is already an exclusion criterion.

On the one hand, I would like accessibility to be a matter of course, that you no longer have to inquire in advance if you want to go somewhere and can also go somewhere spontaneously.

That one can simply vote on an equal footing, in this case with the elections, on an equal footing with any other person. "

In the last few weeks there has been a lot of talk about the candidates, the climate, the economy, minimum wages, taxes, social justice - but damn little about inclusion.

The new right to vote is an important step because all people - with and without disabilities - have an opinion and a right to their vote.

Source: spiegel

All life articles on 2021-09-27

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