Inclusion in Europe – An analysis of the Status Quo
07/11/2019
Accessibility, inclusion and participation are just three of the central principles outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). They give clear directions to all countries that have ratified the UNCRPD. But how well do the individual nations actually fulfill and implement the requirements set forth by the United Nations Convention?
Quo vadis inclusion?
07/11/2019
Ten years ago, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force in Germany. There is still considerable criticism of the current state of its implementation. The hope for a more inclusive society has not yet been fulfilled. But what about the rest of Europe? REHACARE.com has set out on a search – for positive developments, but also for obstacles still to be overcome.
Europe: Inclusion with the help of assistive devices
07/11/2019
The supply of auxiliary means differs from country to country – within Europe and worldwide. This can lead to problems for the individuals who live with a disability and depend on their assistive aids in order to be mobile and participate in professional and social life. So what exactly is the situation like and what needs to be improved? REHACARE.com investigated.
It is not only in digital form that the diversity of people must be recognized and taken into account!
07/11/2019
Sweden is a pioneer in many things. But the Scandinavian country does not represent Europe. However, there is also no country that can be regarded as a positive overall example in the topic of Inclusion. Susanna Laurin from Funka knows why digital accessibility is a way to participate and why research in the field of disabilities and information and communication technology is so important.
Adaptive eating utensils with a Twist: How Bravo Twist by ProWalk outsmarts Parkinson’s tremors
17/10/2019
We all know that food intake is essential for the survival of every living organism. Yet for humans, food can also be a great source of pleasure or even love. At any rate, it is an important part of our social life. But what happens if our own body throws a monkey wrench into our food intake by having a stroke or neurological disorder?
FabLabs: Learning digital competence and promoting participation
01/10/2019
People with disabilities often need custom-made or adapted items because disabilities are unique to each person. And sometimes the affected person is the only one who comes up with great ideas that are truly helpful in daily life. But not everyone has the knowledge or equipment to create their very own auxiliary aid. This is where so-called fab labs come into play.
Two innovative ideas expected to breathe new life into Braille
01/10/2019
Braille was invented nearly 195 years ago. The system has helped people to effectively participate at home and in society and acquire higher education ever since. It remains a reliable system that facilitates inclusion today. However, when it comes to Braille reader advancements, current technology is not nearly as up to date. Two projects plan to change that.
Highlights at REHACARE 2019
02/09/2019
The time has come again: In September, the exhibition halls in Düsseldorf will be transformed into a market of possibilities. Because REHACARE 2019 is just around the corner. 740 exhibitors from 43 countries are offering a wide range of products for rehabilitation, care and self-determined living. In our current Topic of the Month you can find out more about the highlights of REHACARE 2019.
REHACARE 2019: everyone comes together at the market of endless opportunities
02/09/2019
Whether you are a professional, family member or a person with a disability – there’s something for everyone at REHACARE, the leading trade fair for rehabilitation, prevention, inclusion and care. Set to take place September 18 – 21, 2019, the doors of the exhibition halls in Düsseldorf will once again open to welcome anyone interested in auxiliary aids, innovations and expert information.
Tourism: "Questions about accessibility and participation are omnipresent"
02/09/2019
Whether travel providers, accessible mobile homes or special aids for travelling – travel and tourism are a popular topic in the Düsseldorf exhibition halls every year. At this year's REHACARE, exhibitors will be adding a versatile event to their range at TREFFPUNKT REHACARE: news from accessible tourism.
WorkHopper: where sitting is a pleasure
01/08/2019
How often do we change our sitting position throughout the workday? People who don’t use wheelchairs can "stretch their legs" during a long day at the office. Unfortunately, that’s not a real option for wheelchair users. That's why the Dutch manufacturer O4 Wheelchairs has created the WorkHopper, a dynamic and ergonomic solution that’s specifically designed for the workplace.
Labor force participation: How auxiliary aids can help make the workday easier
01/08/2019
Special tools, accessible software or a modified work environment – there are many ways to create a more accessible workplace for people with disabilities. Options range from conventional analog tools to digital solutions. But how can disability inclusion in the workplace be ensured – today and in the future?
Auxiliary means for everyday working life
01/08/2019
A job is the basic prerequisite for a regular income and thus for a self-determined life and participation. People with a disability often need specific auxiliary aids to participate in everyday work life. How those already help to make everyday working life easier today and in the future and why inclusive approaches are important in the area of software, we explain in our Topic of the Month.
Modifications: Self-determined mobility thanks to accessible VW Bulli Bus
01/07/2019
Whether it’s for their professional life or to travel – many people with disabilities need a car that provides mobility without limits. A small car is often unable to accommodate unique needs. That’s when you need a bigger vehicle – like a minivan.
Mobility: New solutions and ideas to promote participation
01/07/2019
Creative people who develop apps that drive greater mobility or experts who customize vehicles to meet unique needs – people with disabilities often have to some extent rely on others to make self-determined mobility a reality. It’s clear that mobility is not a matter of course for stakeholders. Which solutions could offer support in the future?
SmAccLab: Smart auxiliary means for everyone
28/05/2019
Accessible and realistic – that’s how auxiliary aids should be in the eyes of Professor Carsten Zahout. Students at the Smart Accessibility Laboratory (SmAccLab) are working on technical solutions that fulfill these requirements and lead to increased participation for people with disabilities. REHACARE.com found out how product engineering and inclusion join forces.
Real inclusion through virtual possibilities
02/05/2019
The gaming industry is booming. And because the basic idea is to reach as many players as possible, perhaps that's why something is happening in terms of accessibility. You can read in our Topic of the Month May why e-sports currently still have to fight for its status and in what respect there is still a lot of room for accessibility improvement from the perspective of a disabled gamer.
Accessible eSports: technically feasible, but lacking social visibility
02/05/2019
Although it is a newer sport – and yes, it is not a sport in the traditional sense of the word – eSports enjoys mass appeal. Having said that, people face the same challenges in the digital realm as they do in the real world when it comes to the participation of people with disabilities for example.
fuelService app helps drivers with disabilities to refuel their car
18/04/2019
Your car ran out of petrol and you need support refuelling it? The new app fuelService is about to help you find a petrol station where you get the help you need. The app is for free and globally available. App founder Niall El-Assaad told REHACARE.com how it works.
"The DisAbility Talent Program connects employers and prospective employees with disabilities"
07/02/2019
Professional success with a disability or chronic illness – the DisAbility Talent Program aims to also support respective German students and new graduates in the near future. How is it planning to do that? REHACARE.com asked Daniel Schörghofer, who has been in charge of the program in Austria for several years as a DisAbility talent manager at myAbility Social Enterprise GmbH.
Self-determined living: careunities creates flat sharing for people with physical disabilities
24/01/2019
For many people, living in a shared accommodation is a matter of course. But how well does this work if you have a physical disability and require assistance? This is where careunities comes in. The online platform matches people up with future roommates and also plans to retrofit buildings for accessibility, thus creating more shared living spaces.
M-Enabling Forum: "The best assistive technologies cannot be useful if our digital environment is not accessible"
21/06/2018
Self-determined living needs accessibility. This does not only apply to step-free entrance for wheelchair users, but also for the digital environment. For example, when blind people surf the internet with a screen reader, they need web sites that are accessible. But reality often looks different. Reason enough for the M-Enabling Forum to focus on this topic at this year's REHACARE.
TTC Wheel-Trans: Accessible transport for people with disabilities in Toronto
17/05/2018
In Canada, the North Americans are far ahead of us Germans when it comes to accessibility. If you are a guest in Toronto, you not only have the possibility to travel with the usual public transport, but you can also opt for the 100 percent accessible alternative and use Wheel-Trans.
"At the TUECHTIG coworking space, people with and without disabilities are working together – and not just next to each other"
22/03/2018
Maximum flexibility to encourage ideas, effectively sharing office space: coworking spaces have become a part of many major cities. In 2017, Berlin featured about one hundred of them, but none of them were comprehensively accessible. That’s something Stefanie Trzecinski from KOPF, HAND + FUSS gGmbH wanted to change. That was the moment, the idea for "TUECHTIG – Raum für Inklusion" was born.