Action plan for disabled people falls short

Action plan for people with disabilities falls short: VdK Social Union: "4,000 jobs are not enough for 180,000 unemployed"

06/15/2011

Ulrike Mascher, President of the Social Association VdK Germany, described the "National Action Plan for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" adopted today in the Cabinet as "too non-binding"..

The plan contained no legal guarantees and therefore threaten to languish on a well-intentioned letter of intent, criticized Mascher. "As long as the majority of the 9.6 million people with disabilities in Germany have difficulties getting into offices, doctors' offices, cinemas and theaters or using public transport without hindrance, the goal of equal participation in everyday life is far from over for this large population group achieved, "said the VdK president.

"As a drop in the bucket" Mascher described the goal of the Federal Government, 4000 new age-appropriate jobs for severely disabled people over 50 years to create. In view of the more than 180,000 unemployed severely disabled persons and the rising number of unemployed persons compared to the previous year, the initiative of the Federal Minister of Labor was "far from sufficient" to significantly increase the employment opportunities of those affected. (Michael Pausder)