On the occasion of the European Day of Protest for the Equality of People with Disabilities, associations have issued urgent warnings against cuts and reductions in services that will impact people with disabilities.
The Federal Association of Vocational Training Centers (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Berufsbildungswerke) called on the federal government Tuesday for a "clear commitment to securing services for rehabilitation and participation." The association expressed that current discussions around budget cuts give "cause for great concern."
The organization demanded long-term security and development of funding for vocational rehabilitation. The association emphasized that their training centers annually prepare and qualify 16,000 young people with disabilities for the labor market. This represents a central prerequisite for genuine participation and simultaneously serves as an important contribution to securing skilled workers, the association stressed.
The AWO Federal Association sharply criticized the revealed plans for cuts affecting people with disabilities. "The cuts planned behind closed doors in child and youth welfare and integration assistance show that the members of this working group put human rights and children's rights on the line without scruple," declared Kathrin Sonnenholzner, president of the welfare organization.
Many of the proposed ideas would mean exclusion from social participation as well as "new paths into poverty," Sonnenholzner warned.
Bavaria's Social Minister Ulrike Scharf (CSU) defended the planned cuts in integration assistance in principle. "This is explicitly about action proposals that are supposed to reduce bureaucracy, remove hurdles, simplify administrative procedures, and thereby reduce costs," she told Bavarian Broadcasting.
At the same time, she emphasized that participation is "not a privilege, but a human right." Scharf added: "What is social is what preserves the welfare state. For me, it is clear that we need secure financing of services for people with disabilities, especially for children."
A demonstration is taking place in Berlin on Tuesday to mark the protest day. During the event, a petition for more inclusion is being handed over to members of the Bundestag. Parliament will deliberate in first reading on Thursday on amendments to the Disability Equality Act, which aims to advance barrier-free access in Germany.
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