Federal Commissioner for Matters relating to Disabled Persons

• Legal Mandate
• Co-shaping the political and social framework conditions for disabled people
• Being a contact person
• Providing information – raising public awareness – spreading the integration idea

Legal Mandate

Since May 1, 2002 the Act on Equal Opportunities of Disabled People (Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz, BGG) defines the tasks of the Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to Disabled Persons. According to section 15 of the BGG it is her/his task to see to it that the responsibility of the Federal Government to ensure equal living conditions for people with or without disabilities, is complied with in all areas of social life. In her/his work she/he shall commit herself/himself to considering the different living conditions of disabled women and men and to removing gender specific disadvantages. The Commissioner shall have a staff of fulltime co-workers at her/his disposal who supports her/him in fulfilling her/his tasks.

Co-shaping the political and social framework conditions for disabled people

Within the Federal Government the Commissioner exerts her/his influence on political decisions concerning disabled persons and actively supports legislation processes at the federal government level. In order to execute this task the federal ministries involve the Commissioner in all legislative, regulatory and other important projects insofar as they are related to or touch upon matters concerning the integration of disabled people. Where current law has negative effects the Commissioner shall strive to amend current legislation and she/he shall ensure that the interests of disabled people are duly taken into account in any new projects.
Her/his title assigns the Commissioner a clear role: To be the Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to Disabled Persons means that the Commissioner is neither the representative of the interests of disabled people against the Federal Government nor vice-versa, but represents the interests of disabled citizens at the level of the Federal Government. This requires often to weigh different positions and - the not always easy task - to defend in public unpopular decisions that do not correspond to the wishes of the persons concerned and to ask disabled persons for their understanding regarding such decisions.
Not only framework conditions stipulated by the Federal Government have considerable implications for disabled people, but also general social changes. These developments thus require monitoring, analysis and intervention. The Commissioner therefore participates actively in any public political and social debates on disability policy.

Being a contact person

The Commissioner is the Federal Government's central contact person in all matters related to disabled persons. She/he maintains close contacts with the persons concerned, their organisations and associations, insurance funds and service providers with regard to inclusion benefits and with many social groups and other organisations where disabled persons are employed. In this way she/he will acquire a detailed knowledge on the types of problem, expectations and demands of disabled persons.
The foundation for the mandate of the Federal Government Commissioner for Matters related to Disabled Persons is the obligation to consider disabled persons from a holistic angle and to include them into the various policy areas. The responsibility for taking matters related to disabled persons into account rests with the respective responsible ministry. The Commissioner for Matters Related to Disabled Persons is active across all federal government ministries. This position makes it possible that matters related to disabled persons are brought to an office at the heart of the Federal Government, where solutions can be sought, answers from different policy areas can be bundled and supplemented by the Commissioner's own comments. Insofar the Commissioner executes a "hinge function" between disabled persons and persons who are politically /technically in charge.

Providing information – raising public awareness – spreading the integration idea

The Commissioner informs on the legal situation, provides practical information and explains what opportunities there are to integrate disabled persons into society and the world of work.
She/he launches appeals for solidarity and understanding with regard to the situation and needs of disabled persons across society at large. Her /his initiatives in the political, public and cultural area aim at the design of a social reality where barriers are removed and people's attitudes are changed so as to facilitate the integration of disabled persons, in other words - that they are seen as a natural part of the whole.