Government - Disability commissioner: Long road to accessibility
According to the Bavarian Commissioner for the Disabled, Holger Kiesel, there is still a long way to go to achieve accessibility in Bavaria. "We have noticed that the barriers that hinder people in everyday life go far beyond thresholds and steps," the 48-year-old, who was reappointed this week, told the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (Friday edition). Visually or hearing impaired people are often excluded from communication. One example: "On the internet, there needs to be more visual language for some people and more acoustic signals for others." Other people are dependent on plain language.
In the coming legislative period, Kiesel particularly wants to campaign for the Bavarian deaf allowance agreed in the coalition agreement. "Deaf people often need interpreters in everyday life, at the doctor, at the bank, everywhere. These costs are often not covered by anyone." There also needs to be an arbitration board for people with disabilities who feel disadvantaged or discriminated against, as in the federal government and other federal states. "Without this office, many of these disputes end up in court," explained Kiesel.
Ten years ago, then Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) promised that Bavaria would be completely barrier-free by 2023. "Ten years was far too ambitious a target for such a process," Kiesel now concluded. Nevertheless, the target was helpful. "It has triggered a lot" and awareness has also grown. However, Kiesel regretted that he also had to learn that the path to accessibility is not a continuous process. "Disability policy quickly fades into the background during major crises or when money is tight."
Lesen Sie auch:
- Senior hoarded weapons and chemicals: blast in field
- Plauen theater evacuated due to unclear smells
- The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has ended. what might happen next
- Despite being reappointed as the Bavarian Commissioner for the Disabled, Holger Kiesel acknowledges that there's still a significant journey ahead to ensure full accessibility in the Free State of Bavaria, as mentioned in the "SZ" report.
- The accessibility challenges in Bavaria extend beyond physical barriers like thresholds and steps, affecting wheelchair users, visually or hearing impaired individuals, who often struggle with communication and digital platforms, according to Kiesel.
- The government's 2023 goal of making Bavaria completely barrier-free was overly ambitious, concludes Kiesel, but it has initiated significant progress and raised awareness on accessibility issues in the region.
- In an effort to further advance disability rights, Kiesel plans to advocate for implementing the agreed Bavarian deaf allowance, establishing an arbitration board to resolve disputes, and ensuring plain language communication, as seen in other German federal states.
Source: www.stern.de
