Implementing UNCRPD – Strategies of Accessibility Promotion and Assistive Technology Transfer in North Rhine-Westphalia

Abstract

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) has been statutorily confirmed and recognised by the German Bundestag and Bundesrat without limitation. The resulting obligations have been adopted by the government of North Rhine-Westphalia by means of an action plan called ‘One Society for all – NRW Inclusive’. Reflecting the accessibility focus of Article 9 UNCRPD, the ‘Agentur Barrierefrei NRW (Accessibility Agency NRW)’ covers this field of action comprehensively. Main focuses are the built environment, qualification and sensitisation of decision makers, survey of public buildings, qualification and empowerment of users and there organisations, accessibility in the European context, easy language and Assistive Technology (AT) with its links to accessibility and Universal Design (UD). Actions are widely based on user involvement and participation and produce outcomes within the scope of UNCRPD’s general obligations.