Diskriminierung von körperlich und geistig Beeinträchtigten

Zusammenfassung

Approximately 10 per cent of the German population, or more than 10 Million people are categorized as disabled because of a physical or mental impairment. But disability is not a medical condition; it’s a social construct, based on the privileging and maintenance of non-disability as an organizing normative principle (ableism). Since the end of 18th century, disability was defined as a problem that needs to be taken care of by medical and social experts in segregated institutions. People with disabilities have been treated as objects of charity and welfare. The author describes the paradigm shift from this medical-based approach to disability to one based on human rights. A human rights model, as it has now been implemented in the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, recognizes all people as persons before the law. To protect their dignity and right on self-determination, each person, including those, who are disabled on the ground of mental cognitive impairment, has to be placed at the centre of all decisions affecting her or his life. Facilitating independent living choices promotes the right of people with disabilities to work and live in the community, to choose their place of residence, where and with whom they live and without obligation to live in a particular housing arrangement. Therefore, barriers to participation need to be identified and removed, possibly requiring changes to laws, policies, institutions, and environments (diversity mainstreaming). Facilities, goods, services, transport, information and technology need to be designed accessible to persons with disabilities. To meet their individual needs and preferences, they need to get involved and should have access to community support services, including personal assistance necessary to support living and inclusion in the community.