Accessibility and inclusion in the workforce: an interview with Katrin Langensiepen

I'm not a blind person, so I can't talk for blind people. If I need information on this topic, I call the European Blind Union or if I have a friend who is blind, I reach out to them and ask, 'What do you need?' The best way to ensure that those needs are factored in and implemented is by evaluating to what extent products and designs are accessible and involve people with disabilities in that process.

What is Germany's approach to inclusivity and disability?

In Germany we can see clear segregation of people with disabilities in education and the workforce. From my experience, people with disabilities in Germany are afraid of working in politics and the private sector. There is a German employment initiative of sheltered workshops, which currently employs 300,000 persons with disabilities. Those designated programs are problematic as they separate people with disabilities from mainstream employment. In such workshops, persons with disabilities are protected. I hate that word. Instead, let's rethink the idea of 'socializing' and of 'protection' of people with disabilities in society and ask, who are the people with disabilities being protected from? In Germany people with disabilities are often excluded from society, employment, and other opportunities because of such 'protective' schemes, which render them largely invisible. I want to know where are the disabled teachers? Where is the disabled bus driver? Where is the disabled person working in a supermarket?

What other obstacles are people with disabilities facing in Germany?

Society doesn't see people with disabilities as clients or consumers, but as burdens. For example, in a hotel or a restaurant, the staff are frustrated when they see a person with a disability. We are not seen as people with money wanting to pay for a meal. We have to stop seeing persons with disabilities as victims and as people who are suffering. We are also not superheroes; we call that inspiration porn. People will see me in a supermarket paying for groceries and say that it's just amazing and incredible that I am doing that myself and carrying out daily tasks. I would like to be allowed to make mistakes like other people.

As you were growing up, studying and entering the workforce, what was that like for you?

I've never been in that disability bubble, and I grew up in a regular school. I even obtained a regular certificate when I graduated. My parents decided to bring me up in the mainstream world, and you can really see the difference when people with disabilities have been raised in the disability society, which is not their fault. There are institutions and special schools designed to cater for those needs, which get incredible results. This means that those people with disabilities are always protected and always surrounded by other persons with disabilities. When you are educated like this you don't have to fight for anything, you don't have the possibility to fail, you can't make mistakes. This means that persons with disabilities are then scared to go out of that bubble and jump into politics or try to work for Microsoft. It's a question of socialization and of education.

What is the role of accessible technology in the public sector? What change would you like to see implemented?

We have cities in Germany where town halls are still working only with paper. In such places the digital system doesn't exist. I am a digital fan, and I think accessibility in terms of technology is having products that are easy to use and operate. Using devices, like PC's, the questions I consider are practical and consider a physical disability, for example, how heavy is this, can I open it? How can a person without arms use it? For me, carrying things is a problem, so I have to think about the weight of the product. If I am a person who is blind, I need to consider where the information that I need is, or how easy is it to access and start things, such as computers. Another issue for people who are blind is reading information from a website if someone is unbale to see the picture or the video how can they use it. More companies who design these features and services need to start seeing people with disabilities as clients and factor our needs in.

Learn more about theEuropean Accessibility Summit.