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All inclusive in legal online discussions: A model for participation

www.reha-recht.de

German Online Platform for the application and developmentof rehabilitation and participation laws

Dr. Larissa BeckDeutsche Vereinigung für Rehabilitation e. V. (DVfR)

German Association for Rehabilitation

23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

22L. Beck, DVfR, 23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

• History: developed and enhancedsince 2003 (project based)

• Public domain: www.reha-recht.de

• Project management agency: German Association for Rehabilitation (Deutsche Vereinigung für Rehabilitation – DVfR) since 2010

• Academic and professional partners (multidisciplinary): – University of Kassel – University of Halle/Saale– Center for Social research Halle/Saale– Editorial board, additional project advisory board

• Funding: – Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs based on a decision of the German Federal

Parliament, the German Bundestag ( DVfR, since 2016 regular service)– equalisation fee in accordance with the German Severely Handicapped Act ( project

regarding German Social Law – “Federal Participation Law”)

• Online Platform “Discussion Forum” (DF) – Facts

33L. Beck, DVfR, 23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

German Association for Rehabilitation (Deutsche Vereinigung für Rehabilitation – DVfR)

We are…• founded in 1909 in Berlin, today seated in Heidelberg• supported by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs based on a

decision of the German Federal Parliament, the German Bundestag We offer…• network for the development of rehabilitation• interdisciplinary expert committees• organisation of conferences and meetings • public relations including print and online publications • participation in international exchange (e.g. Rehabilitation International)• the only association in Germany, where all actors in the field of

rehabilitation and participation cooperate on equal terms

• DVfR – Project Management Agency

44L. Beck, DVfR, 23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

For example:

2001: German Social Code Book IX (Sozialgesetzbuch, SGB IX) • controversial discussion regarding relationship of SGB IX to individual benefit laws of the

social insurance/social welfare • vagueness in handling interfaces of social law regulations with those of other legal areas and

secondary legislation • no standardized legal practice, scarcity of supreme court decisions in many areas• subdivided system: different players and disciplines involved in rehabilitation processes

2009: German Ratification of CRPD • National Action Plan (2011, 2016)

2017-2020: German Federal Participation Law • including reforms of Social Code Book XI, Part of the Social Welfare law (Integration Help for

PWD) and other laws

• Challenges of German rehabilitation laws…

55L. Beck, DVfR, 23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

– judges and lawyers– social security institutions– physicians and clinics– rehabilitation facilities and service providers– organizations of people with disabilities– enterprises and administrations– representatives of employees with disabilities– works and staff council – counseling centers– researchers and others

support knowledge base, interdisciplinary exchange, networking, communication!

• Target groups for ongoing discussion

66L. Beck, DVfR, 23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

Three main portal areas for • scientific articles (Fachbeiträge)• discussions (Diskussionen) and • information center for issues in rehabilitation and participation (Infothek)

• Basic structure

77L. Beck, DVfR, 23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

•scientifically based articles on topics with practical relevance to rehabilitation and participation laws

•published by experts from theory and practice of different disciplines

• all site users can post comments

• topics include:

social law

labor law

social medicine

concepts and policies

laws for services and institutions

• Scientific Articles (Fachbeiträge)

• Portal areas

88L. Beck, DVfR, 23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

• German and international news regarding rehabilitation and participation laws

• including draft laws, position papers, rules and regulations

•background information and related links as well as additional data

•categories:

laws, rules and regulations jurisdiction policy administration, associations and

bodies locial medicine, enterprises and

stakeholders international topics

• Information center (Infothek)

• Portal areas

99L. Beck, DVfR, 23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

• „questions – opinions – answers“ (Fragen – Meinungen – Antworten [FMA]) a moderated forum for online discussions on specific aspects of rehabilitation laws

all interested persons can contribute questions and experiences

experts are invited to post answers and statements

• a „lounge“ area facilitates discussions started among the community

• comment function for scientific articles and content in the information center

• interactive glossary for the explanation and discussion of terminology

plus comments:

• Discussions (Diskussionen)

• Portal areas

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up-to-date participatory, accessible, low threshold interactive, interdisciplinary, building networksanonymous participation possiblehigh quality (professional support by experts and moderators/editors)sustainable documentationcitation of scientific articles in jurisdiction (among others the federal

social court of Germany, Bundessozialgericht) and legal literature

- But: NO individual counseling!

• Advantages

1111L. Beck, DVfR, 23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

• Interactive portal open for contributions– Interested persons can publish, discuss, comment

articles and set impulses for topics and public discussion.

• Fast access on information without barriers– clear structured design, extensive search and filter

functions, web accessibility certificate (tested by the German project BIK)

• Reliable reference– for professional scientific and practical work as well as for

everyday life of people with disabilities

• Up-to-date– www.reha-recht.de particularly deals with current issues

due for discussion in Germany.

• Added values

1212L. Beck, DVfR, 23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

researchers can exchange views with participants of the same or other disciplines,

outline the results of their ownscientific work to a broad responding audience

and

use the outcome of the discussion as an impulse for further research.

practitioners and affected persons can learn the current scientific perspective on legal issues,

ask questions and post their experience – and so take part in the exchange

and

relate topics to institutions and contact persons (network support).

• Facilitate dialogue

Research Practice

1313L. Beck, DVfR, 23rd RI World Congress, Oct 25-27 2016, Edinburgh

• awareness raising measure as set out in the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD)

• extend networking activities and

• further interactive use and participation (e. g. use of moderated discussions for events)

• increased use as an instrument to support further research activities

(e. g. German action alliance for participation research [Aktionsbündnis Teilhabeforschung])

• Perspectives

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www.reha-recht.de

FMA (online-discussions)

Thank you for your attention!

Contact information:Dr. Larissa Beck

Deutsche Vereinigung für Rehabilitation e.V. (DVfR) Maaßstr. 26

69123 HeidelbergPhone: 06221 187 901-14

Email: l.beck@dvfr.de