As of: January 24, 2024, 1:00 p.m
By: Veronika Ahn-Tauchnitz
Comments
Press
Split
A particular concern of the Working Group for People with Disabilities is to enable people with and without disabilities to come together from an early age and on many levels.
“Playgrounds, child and youth care, schools and the transition to the primary labor market should be given particular focus,” says a statement on the inclusion strategy.
“Red Guide for our future work” Fewer barriers – that benefits all citizens © dpa
The district social committee approves a strategy paper on inclusion - without discussion.
However, those affected would have liked more discourse.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – The audience chairs in the meeting room were well filled.
This is very rare at a meeting of the district social committee.
Some people were probably quite disappointed at how quickly the inclusion strategy was decided - and all without discussion.
The topic was last presented to the committee in October.
The process of developing a strategy for more inclusion tailored to the district has been running since 2019, but came to a standstill during Corona.
(Our Bad Tölz newsletter regularly informs you about all important stories from your region. Sign up here.)
Specific projects will be discussed in the committee in June
3. District Administrator Klaus Koch (Greens), who chaired the meeting, probably sensed the disappointment in the room.
“We don’t want the paper to disappear in the drawer,” he hastened to say.
The whole thing is now in the “management pipeline”.
The strategy paper is the “red guide for our future work.
This is not over with today's meeting, otherwise everything would have been in vain - we agree on that." Rather, the work now begins, in other words: it is now about "getting concrete things started."
The committee should tackle the latter at its June meeting, said Koch.
Self-determined life - without having to rely on outside help
After the inclusion strategy was unanimously approved, the district representative for the disabled, Ralph Seifert, wanted to say a few words to the committee.
“Inclusion is a very important topic,” said Seifert, who uses a wheelchair himself.
Five years have passed since it was decided to develop this strategy.
Money, time and energy have been invested.
Seifert also emphasized once again what inclusion means.
It's about being able to master your everyday life and your life independently - without always having to rely on outside help.
“District politicians should be aware of their responsibility,” said Seifert.
It’s about “enabling self-determined lives.
I would like to pass this on to the district council.”
The committee will consider the strategy in March and make the final decision.
It is a demand “that affects us all.
Because we are all getting older,” added Seifert.
Decision without discussion “makes us think a bit”
Markus Ertl, spokesman for the board of directors in the working group (AK) for people with disabilities, was also at the meeting.
“Our working group, as the initiator of this inclusion strategy, very much welcomes the fact that the committee has unanimously accepted the present draft and that it will now also be decided on by the district council,” writes Ertl in a press release.
“However, the fact that the draft was accepted by the committee with almost no discussion gives us something to think about.
Since more participation requires not only this political approval but also a change in values in our region, we would have liked to have had the necessary discourse in the committee.”
Projects should be tackled promptly
The AK still hopes “that the fields of action listed in the strategy and the measures described as an opportunity for inclusion will be tackled promptly and given the necessary prioritization despite the tighter budget.”
In order to “not only dismantle the existing barriers, but also prevent new ones from being created in new projects in the district and the municipalities,” the AK considers it very important to consult the representative for the disabled in construction and land-use planning in the future as a representative of public concerns.
My news
Young people take revenge on police officers: permanent arrest reading
Accident reported too late: pensioner fined after parking collision
Record weekend on the slopes at Brauneck, Blomberg and Herzogstandlesen
Tölz live: carnival rally in Sachsenkamlesen
Conservation Rangers: The Keepers of a Jewel - Reading for 40 Years
100 years: The Walchensee power plant shines
Fewer barriers – that benefits all citizens
In addition to accessibility, the working group is particularly concerned with enabling people with and without disabilities to come together from an early age and on many levels.
“Playgrounds, child and youth care, schools and the transition to the primary labor market should be given particular focus,” says the press release.
That's why it's important for the working group to "already steer the Children and Youth Strengthening Act, which aims to increase inclusion from 2028, into the right direction today".
The working group has already made concrete suggestions in its statement on the draft inclusion strategy.
Among other things, those affected and parents of affected children should be appointed as members of the youth welfare committee.
To this end, the district should also advise local youth work on the topic of inclusion and continually review advisory structures on inclusive paths, for example in daycare centers and schools.
There is also a demand to make the holiday pass offers in the district inclusive.
Almost 16,000 people with disabilities live in the district
According to the latest surveys, there were 15,925 people with disabilities living in the district in 2022, which corresponds to around twelve percent of the population.
Breaking down barriers and enabling participation ultimately benefits all citizens, emphasized Maria-Kristin Kistler from the social welfare office at the committee's November meeting.