Public information event: Together for a disability advisory board!

Public information event: Together for a disability advisory board!

On July 10, 2025, the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district will open the doors in the large meeting room of the district office to promote the establishment of an advisory board for the disabled. The information event will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and everyone is warmly invited, especially people with disabilities, their relatives and committed citizens and stakeholders. [osl-online] reports that the event is barrier-free accessible - the entrance is from the back of the building and sign language interpretation is also offered. Pre-registration is required either by telephone on 03573 870-1032 or by email.

The aim of this initiative is to strengthen the voices of people with disabilities in political decision-making processes and to make their concerns more visible at the local level. On March 13, 2025, the district council decided on the advisory board, which will serve as an advisory body for the representatives for people with disabilities. “There is really something going on here,” says the district, which wants to promote equal opportunities and social participation for all people in the region.

An important body for inclusion

Citizens are also invited to volunteer on the advisory board. Applications can be submitted during the event. The Advisory Board for the Disabled should have up to 15 members who will be appointed for a three-year term at the suggestion of the district administrator. The official appointment is scheduled for September 26, 2025.

There are now around 7.9 million people with severe disabilities living in Germany, which makes up almost 10% of the population, as [deutschlandfunk] has found. These numbers illustrate the tangible need we have to catch up when it comes to inclusion in everyday life. Although progress has already been made in education, there are still numerous barriers: many medical practices lack accessibility, and there are also many hurdles to overcome in cultural life, such as limited access to events and job opportunities.

Social participation as a human right

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was signed by 185 states, including Germany, obliges the social participation of people with disabilities as a human right. According to [statista], social barriers are the main cause of exclusion, not the individual impairments themselves. The lack of accessibility in schools and authorities remains a constant challenge. The political mandate is clear: Germany must fight discrimination and promote participation for everyone.

The fact is that access to education, the job market and health for people with disabilities often remains limited. Although outpatient support has increased, labor force participation is still far behind the numbers of people without disabilities. These inequalities are unacceptable and show that we as a society are called upon to take action and promote the shift towards inclusion.

The information event on July 10th offers everyone interested the opportunity to get involved and take action for inclusion and equal opportunities. Because together we can break down the barriers!