Inclusion commission of the district meets for the first time

The Corona pandemic and, since February 2022, the Ukraine war have meant that other important issues have taken a back seat in public perception over the past almost three years. Alongside tackling climate change, inclusion is one of these major issues. In contrast, the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg has established a forward-looking instrument: the inclusion commission as an auxiliary body of the district committee. It now met for its first session in the Korbach district hall.

First District Councillor Karl-Friedrich Frese, as chair of the commission, explained the goals of the committee: "In our work, we are primarily guided by Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In concrete terms, this means that obstacles and disadvantages for people with impairments in Waldeck-Frankenberg should be recognised and eliminated." The district is committed to a society in which every person has the same opportunities and possibilities and is able to participate in public life in a self-determined way.

The overarching agenda of the Inclusion Commission is therefore to identify problems in various areas of life such as work, housing, leisure or mobility. Proposals for solutions or recommendations for action are to be developed. In addition to Frese as chairperson, the committee includes two members of the district committee and three members of the district council from local politics. Five knowledgeable residents of the district are also on hand with advice, action and suggestions. They were proposed by associations or institutions that are particularly interested in inclusion.

In the first meeting, not only the legal status and tasks of the Inclusion Commission were presented. Speakers Alexandra Köck and Miriam Drüppel also informed about two projects: "Barrier-free living in the district" and "Pfotenpiloten". In addition, Ms. Drüppel presented the considerations on municipal disability commissioners. The committee will meet regularly from now on - the next meeting is planned for spring 2023 - and report on its deliberations to the district committee.

 

Members of the Inclusion Commission:

  • First District Councillor Karl-Friedrich Frese, Chairman
  • District Councillor Daniel Clemens, Volkmarsen
  • District Councillor Fritz Schäfer, Vöhl-Basdorf
  • Member of the District Council Dieter Büchsenschütz, Vöhl
  • Member of the District Council Bernd Schaub, Volkmarsen
  • Member of the District Council Heidemarie Schmirler, Willingen (Upland)
  • Resident with expertise Gerlinde Albath, Hatzfeld-Reddighausen; VdK local association Reddighausen/Holzhausen/Eifa
  • Resident with expertise Jürgen Damm, Bad Arolsen; Action for disabled people
  • Resident in a position of expertise Hans-Jürgen Firch, Korbach
  • Resident with expertise Nicole Kesper, Korbach; VdK Waldeck-Frankenberg
  • Resident with expertise Iris Ruhwedel, Frankenau; State Welfare Association


Keywords:

Inclusion Model Region Accessibility District Committee