Sea of lights for inclusion

Sea of lights for inclusion 2024

A report from Care Revolution Rhein/Main

As in previous years, many people and children gathered in front of the steps of the Historisches Museum Frankfurt at 5 p.m. on the dot, much to our delight. With colourful lanterns or decorated with fairy lights and fairy lights. The drum ensemble Alles Blech(http://www.sambaallesblech.de/) also took part again. They accompanied our lantern procession through Frankfurt's Old Town to St Paul's Square, the birthplace of German parliamentary democracy, and from there to Römerberg, the square in front of Frankfurt City Hall. There, the participants in the procession had the opportunity to get to know each other and exchange ideas while enjoying a pretzel.

We were particularly pleased that the BVZ(https://www.bvz-frankfurt.info/fuer-eltern/veranstaltungstipps/lichtermeer-fuer-inklusion-am-1-november/) also advertised our event in their daycare centres.

At the rally before the run, Amira, mother of a severely disabled son, pointed out how much the rich banking metropolis of Frankfurt still has to do to support the lives of families like hers in providing the necessary care and support for their children. A suitable, disability-friendly council flat? Only after at least eight years of application. A suitable day care centre? Not a chance! The child had to be accommodated in Ingelheim/Rhine and now lives in Wiesbaden. This alone makes it extremely difficult for him to participate in family life, which is a huge disadvantage not only for his son, but also for his parents and siblings.

Jörg, father of a daughter who is also severely disabled, complemented Amira by stating that his daughter's participation in cultural life (going to the opera or museum, taking part in a workshop...) is made more difficult by the fact that there are practically no "toilets for all", i.e. the possibility of changing a nappy for a young person or an adult in a dignified manner if necessary. Their participation in school life depends on the presence of a personal assistant. Unfortunately, this is not always guaranteed. Frankfurt has a map showing parking spaces, but unfortunately not all disabled parking spaces are shown. Finally, there are only two centres in the whole of Germany where a father (or mother) with a severely disabled child can go for a mother-and-child or father-and-child cure, but it takes two years' notice to get a place there

In other words, even 15 years after the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, there are still serious deficits in Frankfurt and in Germany, which urgently need to be pointed out not just with a lantern walk, but with a spotlight! - We will make representations to the city and demand that at least the deficits for which Frankfurt is responsible are rectified soon.