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| German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted People | |
|---|---|
| Name | German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted People |
| Formation | 1916 |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Headquarters | Berlin |
| Region served | Germany |
| Leader title | President |
German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted People is a German national non-profit organization based in Berlin that represents the interests of people with visual impairments across Germany, engages with European institutions in Brussels and interacts with international bodies in Geneva. Founded in the early 20th century, the federation has participated in networks connected to European Disability Forum, World Blind Union, United Nations forums, and German parliamentary committees in Bundestag. It works alongside civil society actors such as German Red Cross, Caritas, Diakonie Deutschland, and collaborates with academic institutions like Humboldt University of Berlin and University of Heidelberg on research and training.
The federation traces roots to organizations formed during the era of the German Empire and the aftermath of World War I, contemporaneous with associations such as Royal National Institute of Blind People and movements in France and United Kingdom; it evolved through the Weimar period, the era of the Weimar Republic, and into the post-World War II reconstruction alongside bodies like Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft and federations in Sweden and Norway. In the postwar Federal Republic era the federation engaged with ministries in Bonn and later in Berlin as social policy instruments such as the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany and disability legislation were debated in the Bundestag and the Federal Constitutional Court. During European integration it aligned policy with directives from the European Commission and cooperated with networks originating from Council of Europe initiatives. The federation has interacted with disability rights campaigns linked to United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and global advocacy originating in New York City and Geneva.
The federation states objectives that include promoting accessibility in public spaces like stations managed by Deutsche Bahn and cultural sites such as the Berliner Philharmonie, influencing legislation in assemblies like the Bundesrat, and improving employment outcomes through partnerships with agencies such as the Federal Employment Agency (Germany). It prioritizes independent living in municipalities across Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, and Frankfurt am Main and seeks inclusion within institutions such as the European Parliament and national courts including the Federal Constitutional Court. The federation advances standards used by technical committees affiliated with DIN and engages with technology firms based in Silicon Valley, Shenzhen, and Bangalore for accessible information systems.
The federation is governed by elected leadership and boards that convene in assemblies modeled on deliberative practices used by organizations like Amnesty International, Greenpeace, and Transparency International. Administrative headquarters coordinate regional offices and legal representation in courts such as the Federal Administrative Court and lobbying in the Bundestag. Its governance incorporates advisory input from specialists at institutions like Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and research centers including Max Planck Society institutes, while cooperating with professional associations such as Ver.di and DIHK on labor issues.
Membership comprises local chapters across German states including Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony-Anhalt, with city-level groups in Dresden, Leipzig, Stuttgart, and Düsseldorf. Chapters coordinate with municipal authorities in Munich and housing initiatives like those run by Deutsche Wohnen and social service providers such as AWO. The federation maintains links with comparable bodies such as Royal National Institute of Blind People in the United Kingdom, National Federation of the Blind in the United States, and organizations in Japan and Australia to facilitate exchanges and training.
Programs include vocational training modeled after projects supported by the European Social Fund and rehabilitation services aligned with standards from World Health Organization guidance and occupational programs run by Federal Employment Agency (Germany). The federation provides mobility training referencing systems used by Deutsche Bahn and transit authorities in Berlin and Hamburg, offers assistive technology support drawing on collaborations with companies like Microsoft, Apple Inc., and Google, and organizes cultural access initiatives with museums such as the Pergamon Museum and theaters like the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
Advocacy spans campaigns for legislative reforms debated in the Bundestag and regulatory engagement with the European Commission on digital accessibility directives and standards administered by ISO and DIN. The federation files amicus submissions in courts such as the Federal Constitutional Court and works with coalitions including European Disability Forum and World Blind Union to influence international protocols like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It has engaged with national ministries located in Berlin and with research partners at Technical University of Munich when addressing employment discrimination cases and accessibility rulemaking.
The federation issues magazines, position papers, and guides distributed to members and referenced by media outlets such as Deutsche Welle, Der Spiegel, and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; it publishes accessible materials in formats aligned with standards from Braille Authority of North America comparators and collaborates with broadcasters like ARD and ZDF for audio description and captioning projects. It maintains online resources interfacing with platforms such as Wikipedia and archives coordinated with libraries like the German National Library.
Category:Disability organizations based in Germany Category:Organizations established in 1916