Anyone who uses a wheelchair knows from painful experience that the much-vaunted accessibility often has its limits. The VdK is now demanding obligations for private providers, for example.
The social association VdK has demanded a reform of the General Equal Treatment Act. In its current form, this has “several regulatory gaps” that need to be closed as soon as possible, explained VdK President Verena Bentele on Thursday. The federal government announced a reform in the coalition agreement. So far, however, the Federal Ministry of Justice has presented neither a draft law nor a key issues paper.
Bentele demanded that private providers of goods and services should finally be obliged to be barrier-free. At the very least, the refusal to take appropriate and reasonable precautions for accessibility in individual cases must be included in the law as prohibited discrimination.
Accessibility means that buildings, workplaces, public transport, commodities, services and leisure activities are designed in such a way that they are accessible and usable for everyone without outside help.
There is also a need for action with insurance companies, it said in the Benteles statement. People are effectively denied life or disability insurance because of their disability or illness due to non-transparent risk calculations. Here an effective legal ban must stop the discrimination.
In addition, the General Equal Treatment Act must facilitate access to legal proceedings for those affected. For example, deadlines for asserting discrimination should be extended from two to twelve months. The VdK also called for the establishment of an ombudsman and arbitration board.
Source: Stern

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