Regensburg advocates demand prioritized inclusion and accessibility for disabled individuals ahead of the 2026 local elections
In a joint press release, Holger Kiesel, the Bavarian State Government's Representative for the Concerns of People with Disabilities, and Frank Reinel, Chairman of the Association of Municipal Representatives of People with Disabilities in Bavaria e.V. (VKIB), have emphasized the importance of maintaining accessibility and participation for people with disabilities, especially during economically challenging times.
The press release serves as a call to action for municipalities to prioritize these principles in their decision-making processes. The rights and needs of people with disabilities, the leaders stress, must not be overlooked in the pursuit of cost savings.
According to the press release, participation is a fundamental principle, not a "fair-weather project". Accessibility and inclusion are crucial for fostering an inclusive society, and municipalities play a central role in implementing these principles.
To ensure equal access and participation for people with disabilities amid financial constraints, best practices focus on strategic compliance with legal standards, inclusive planning, community collaboration, and innovative use of technology.
One key approach is the embedding of accessibility in capital and routine projects. Municipalities should incorporate ADA accessibility standards in all construction, reconstruction, and maintenance projects of public infrastructure such as sidewalks, curb ramps, and public buildings. Scheduling upgrades through street and utility improvement projects can make accessibility enhancements cost-effective and systematic.
Another approach is engaging people with disabilities and related organizations. Actively partnering with disability advocacy groups and involving people with disabilities in advisory boards, staff training, emergency drills, and communication assessments helps tailor policies and services to real needs. Including the disability community’s input ensures relevance and efficiency in resource-constrained environments.
The press release also highlights the importance of using multimodal, accessible communication. Providing information in multiple accessible formats—large print, electronic, audio recordings, captioning (CART), sign language interpreters, and technologies such as video remote interpreting—ensures broad access. This is particularly crucial during emergencies and public meetings.
Facilitating remote participation in public meetings is another recognized reasonable accommodation under ADA. Allowing members with disabilities to join public meetings remotely via two-way real-time video and audio streaming maintains participation rights while needing minimal additional cost and infrastructure, especially post-pandemic.
The press release also stresses the importance of prioritizing and responding to accessibility requests reasonably. Developing an accessible process for the public to submit accessibility improvement requests, and scheduling these improvements consistent with transportation and city priorities, fosters trust and inclusivity without overwhelming budgets.
Lastly, the leaders urge municipalities to stay current with standards and training. Keeping abreast of evolving ADA standards, best practices from federal agencies, and incorporating training led by people with disabilities enhances municipal staff’s capability to address accessibility efficiently.
By integrating these practices, municipalities can advance equal access and participation for people with disabilities even amid financial constraints, maximizing community impact within sustainable budgets. The Association of Municipal Representatives of People with Disabilities in Bavaria e.V. (VKIB) was mentioned as a significant entity in the discussion.
The event focused on an appeal to municipalities to prioritize these principles in their decision-making processes, reaffirming the agreement between Holger Kiesel and Frank Reinel on the importance of accessibility, inclusion, and participation.
The event reaffirmed the agreement between Holger Kiesel and Frank Reinel, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing accessibility, inclusion, and participation in municipal politics, particularly during economically challenging times. To ensure equal rights and needs for people with disabilities, the press release suggested incorporating ADA accessibility standards in capital and routine projects, engaging the disability community, using multimodal communication, and facilitating remote participation in public meetings.
