Online reading by Laura Gehlhaar on 3 December
The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg with its Women and Equal Opportunities Service and the Accessibility Model Region invites you to a free online reading on 3 December 2024. The occasion is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
From 6 - approx. 7.30 pm, Laura Gehlhaar will be presenting excerpts from her book "Kann man da noch was machen? - Stories from the everyday life of a wheelchair user" and her contribution to the anthology "Unlearn Patriarchy" on the topic of self-empowerment and self-determination as a disabled woman. The reading will be accompanied by sign language interpreters; afterwards there will be an opportunity for questions and an exchange of experiences with the author.
Laura Gehlhaar studied social education and psychology, lives in Berlin and works as an author and business consultant for inclusion and anti-discrimination. On social media, she passionately advocates for a progressive view of inclusion, with the conviction that a strong democracy is based on diversity and participation. In 2016, she published her first book "Kann man da noch was machen?". In 2022, she contributed as a co-author to the anthology "Unlearn Patriarchy".
Through her personal experiences and anecdotes, Laura Gehlhaar's readings offer many "Oh yes, I know that well" moments. In particular, the feminist perspective in "Unlearn Patriarchy" addresses experiences of discrimination that women with disabilities in particular face. The author's stories make abstract challenges and discrimination tangible and hold up a mirror to society's treatment of people with disabilities with a wink.
Registration for the reading is requested online at www.landkreis-waldeck-frankenberg.de/Veranstaltungen by 2 December. The link for participation will be sent directly after registration. The organisers are looking forward to welcoming many participants.
Background
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was established by the United Nations in 1992 to raise awareness of the needs of people with disabilities and to increase public awareness of their rights and the issue of inclusion.
The main aim of the day is to promote understanding of the problems faced by people with disabilities and to mobilise support for their rights. The day also serves to raise awareness of the need for full social participation and equality for people with disabilities. It emphasises the importance of removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating equally in all areas of life - whether in education, working life or leisure. Around 10 per cent of the population in Germany are dependent on accessibility in their everyday lives, while around 40 per cent can only cope with their everyday lives with difficulty or not at all without accessibility.
Figures from "Statista", 2022:
- Around 10 per cent of the population are considered "severely disabled".
- 90 per cent of severe disabilities were caused by an illness, around three per cent of disabilities were congenital or occurred in the first year of life. Only just under one per cent of disabilities were due to an accident or occupational illness. Five per cent were due to other causes.