From BZ/dpa
People with disabilities want more say. One place for this is the Berlin Parliament for the Disabled. It meets for the first time where political demands are usually discussed.
It was also an unusual situation for the President of the House of Representatives. “We’re making a bit of history today,” said Dennis Buchner at the opening of the session of the Berlin Parliament for the Disabled on Saturday. It met for the first time in the House of Representatives. “This is a real milestone for this city.”
Around 100 people with disabilities came together in the plenary hall, where the elected representatives usually debate and pass laws.
President of the House of Representatives Dennis Buchner said: “We are making a bit of history today” Photo: dpa/picture alliance
The Berlin Disabled Parliament (BPP) started in 2021, but the first parliamentary session was only possible digitally due to the corona. It exemplifies what makes up society, said Buchner – appropriately on the International Day of People with Disabilities. “It’s a great sign for Berlin that so many people are committed to one another and to each other.”
The President of Parliament called for people to get involved and speak out: “You initiate changes and give us politicians very specific demands.”
Buchner sat in his usual seat in the state parliament. Unlike usual, this time a sign language interpreter stood diagonally in front of him. And in the first row of seats in the plenary hall, several members of the Disabled Parliament could be seen in wheelchairs. Social Senator Katja Kipping (Left), Transport Senator Bettina Jarasch (Greens) and Health Senator Ulrike Gote (Greens) were present as representatives of the state government, but also a number of other representatives of the Senate administrations.
Dominik Peter from the Presidium of the Parliament for the Disabled said that the initiator of the idea, Christian Specht, was smiled at at first, but continued on his way undeterred. Specht is now President of the Parliament for the Disabled.
A dream had finally come true for him, Specht said on Saturday. At the start of the meeting, member of the Executive Committee Gerlinde Bendzuck admitted: “My eyes are wet at the moment. This is a big moment for all of us.”
Social Senator Katja Kipping (Left Party), Transport Senator Bettina Jarasch (Green Party) and Health Senator Ulrike Gote (Green Party) were also present Photo: picture alliance / dpa
The Senate members present then asked critical questions: For example, whether there could not be more support for people with disabilities when looking for a job or how it could be ensured that when the 49-euro ticket was introduced next spring, buses and Lanes don’t get so crowded that disabled people have no more space.
Sometimes it was about details like the personal contribution to the costs of using inclusion taxis, sometimes about big issues like a mobility concept that meets the needs of people with disabilities. The members of the Senate were available to answer questions, expressed understanding for such concerns and – as usual – often pointed out that the implementation of even good ideas often takes a lot of time.
The Berlin Disabled Parliament (BBP) represents the interests of people with disabilities vis-à-vis politicians and authorities. So-called focus groups develop proposals on important issues related to disability policy. They are discussed and voted on once a year in the Parliament for the Disabled. The approved motions are handed over to the Senate administrations with the request to implement them. After Bremen, the Berlin Parliament for the Disabled is the second nationwide assembly of people with disabilities.