One of Germany’s recent laws passed in 2016 is called the “Bundesteilhabegesetz” law, or “federal participation law” (Knight, 2016.) This law was passed for people considered to be “seriously disabled” to keep their benefits regardless of their partners income. Additionally, this law introduced financial incentives for employers to employ people with disabilities. Another asset of this law is that disability benefits are given to the disabled wherever they live. Before the law was passed they were only given benefits if they lived in a care home specifically for the disabled. Another law that the German’s have that directly impacts people with disabilities is that they have the entitlement to “avert, eliminate, or improve their disability” (Kock, 2004.) This includes changes to communication, transportation, social settings, etc. The Ninth Social Code of Germany states that people with disabilities have benefits to live a “self determined life, have equal participation opportunities in society, and to avoid or counteract any discrimination” (Knight, 2016.) Additionally medical rehabilitation and participation in work and community life are a big part of this code in Germany. The Disability Discrimination Act provided equal right for people with disabilities in public and private settings. The act includes discrimination by public authorities, special needs of disabled women, barrier-free buildings and assistive technologies, and barrier free access to all public places including restaurants and transportation areas.
The UN and German Government co-hosted the Development Cooperation Forum Germany High-Level Symposium that began in March of 2014. The idea of the symposium is to explore and develop how governments, sectors and foundations, societies, and more can improve lives by using sustainable development. Experts from around the UN in all areas were working together to enhance global development; as the idea is to lower poverty levels worldwide starting in the UN; Germany specifically.
Germany has many laws that are extremely inclusive to those with disabilities. This is probably why the High School graduation rate there for graduates with disabilities is 86%. This statistic includes all IEPs and kids involved in special education programs there. The amount of these students that go on to go to University is 157,214 (Studying in Germany, 2018.)
Special advising services are offered at all of the Universities in Germany to students with handicaps and chronic illnesses. Most universities have on campus wheelchair accessible student housing, as well as nearby off campus housing that are wheelchair accessible. Many of the universities in Germany allow students with disabilities to take their exams on a computer so that they can use brail or use extra time than writing everything down depending on the disability. Schools offer on campus transportation and everywhere is wheelchair accessible (DAAD, 2018.)
Full-time employed disabled workers are at 28.5 percent in Germany as compared to the 76% of non-disabled workers who are full-time. I was unable to find any information on part-time workers and underemployment, but I am aware through my findings that German law has made employment very inclusive when it comes to hiring and providing assistance to disabled employers. I was unable to find any information specifying the difference between disabled men and women in the workforce, but in Germany the overall employment rates for women is 70% with the men being 78% (OECD, 2017). I can imagine that these studies are applicable to those with disabilities as well when it comes to gender. As for age, as the person gets older it becomes more difficult for them to keep their job as they need more training and possibly more assistive technologies at the workplace. No specific statistics were given for this information.
DAAD. (2018). Study in Germany – Land of Ideas. Retrieved from https://www.study-in.de/en/plan-your-stay/help-and-advice/studying-with-disabilitiy/studying-with-a-disability_56822.php
Knight, B. (16, January 12). Activists angry as Germany passes contentious disability law | DW | 01.12.2016. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/activists-angry-as-germany-passes-contentious-disability-law/a-36606791
Kock, M. (2004). Private Law. Disability Law in Germany: An Overview of Employ- Ment, Education and Access Rights,5(11), 1373-1376. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/43601396_Disability_Law_in_Germany_An_Overview_of_Employment_Education_and_Access_Rights.
OECD. (2017). The Pursuit of Gender Equality: An Uphill Battle. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/germany/Gender2017-DEU-en.pdf
School and District Profiles: German Gerena Community School. (2017). Retrieved from http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/gis/sped_map.aspx?orgcode=02810195&&dropDownOrgCode=2
Studying in Germany as a Disabled Student. (2018, September 17). Retrieved from https://www.studying-in-germany.org/studying-in-germany-as-a-disabled-student/
UN and Germany co-host Symposium to explore future of development cooperation | UN DESA Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2014, March 20). Retrieved from https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/intergovernmental-coordination/dcf.html
November 4, 2018 at 10:54 pm
Hi Lydia,
It seems that Germany might’ve had many loops to jump through before a person living with a disability received some assistance. I can imagine the barriers people faced because of the policies. Many may have purposely been institutionalized before receiving assistance. Receiving assistance no matter where a person lives can open up many new experiences and a better way of life. It is apparent to me (now) that policies are so important and can affect the quality of life for a person living with disability so very much.
Thank you for your post. -Christine