Concerns Over Inclusion and Participation: People with Disabilities Fear Discrimination Post-Election

The upcoming Bundestag election has raised significant concerns among individuals with disabilities, as highlighted by a recent survey conducted by Aktion Mensch. This survey, released on Tuesday, indicates that a substantial majority of respondents are worried that issues surrounding participation and inclusion may be deprioritized in the next parliamentary term.

According to the findings, approximately two-thirds of those surveyed expressed fears that the importance of inclusion and related topics could be diminished in the future Bundestag. While the reasons for these concerns were not directly explored in the survey, the apprehensions are palpable among the community.

The survey also revealed that the primary issues for voters in the upcoming legislative period are rising living costs and inflation, which were cited by 43% of respondents. Additionally, concerns about poverty and social inequality were highlighted by 36% of those surveyed.

To address these pressing issues, nearly half of the participants (47%) called for the maintenance or enhancement of social security systems, such as health insurance and citizen income. Furthermore, 46% of respondents advocated for an increase in accessible housing options for individuals with disabilities, while 36% sought improvements in employment opportunities for this demographic.

Interestingly, the survey indicated a notable increase in the planned voter turnout among individuals with disabilities, with about 94% indicating their intention to vote. This is a significant rise compared to the overall voter turnout in the last Bundestag election in 2021, which was around 76%.

The survey was conducted by Aktion Mensch in collaboration with the polling institute Ipsos, gathering responses from 376 individuals aged 16 and older with disabilities between January 2 and January 9.