Slaying Society's Hurdles: "The Day in GL"
Gathering for everyone - inclusivity for those with and without special needs
Start your day the right way with our daily local news roundup delivered right to your inbox at 7:07 AM.
Get the newsletter for free!
For individuals with disabilities, life isn't always a walk in the park. They often face various challenges day-to-day, such as inaccessible public facilities like pedestrian stops or restaurants with no elevators or disabled-friendly restrooms. Fortunately, since 1976, the Club of People with Disabilities and Their Friends (CBF) Rheinisch Bergischer Kreis e.V. has been striving to create a more inclusive and accessible society for those affected.
People with and without disabilities work side by side at CBF to help individuals with disabilities live as independently as possible in their communities and boost their self-reliance. They aim to integrate people with disabilities into society.
Every soul matters
The CBF's primary goal is to actively promote the social participation of people with disabilities and the establishment of comprehensive barrier-free access. Regardless of one's impairments, ethnic background, gender, or age, everyone deserves to fully participate in and contribute to society.
Participation shouldn't be limited or denied because of one's appearance, the language they speak, or the presence of disabilities. Diversity is the core, and everyone is welcome, regardless of their abilities. For instance, a blind person could participate in a painting class if they wished.
Ursula Nantke, the CBF's founder, says, "We aim to empower people with disabilities and treat them as equals. We aim to provide as much support as needed, yet as little assistance as possible." Individuals with disabilities should have the same opportunities to live independently as everyone else. Many lasting friendships have blossomed through shared experiences.
Together, we thrive
Social participation might mean exploring the city, sharing an ice cream cone, or visiting a museum with someone who would otherwise be alone due to their disability. Engaging with the community and facing challenges with their disabilities is the essence of social participation.
CBF regularly organizes various leisure activities to combat the isolation faced by people with disabilities. They offer options such as meditation groups, museum tours, swimming together, memory training, and even a bowling group for wheelchair users. Many of their activities take place in cooperation with Café GrenzenLos.
The idea for Café GrenzenLos was initially conceived by the association in 2016, in collaboration with young, disabled individuals. This vibrant café actively shapes the inclusion process throughout the district, is represented in the inclusion committee of the city, and frequently addresses the concerns of people with disabilities through public actions. The CBF serves as a voice for those without one, influencing political opinion formation and public awareness.
"It's crucial to keep the conversation going and raise awareness about the issues faced by people with disabilities," Nantke believes. "Many individuals are unsure of the best ways to interact with people with disabilities and may require encouragement to overcome any misconceptions, fears, or hesitations," Nantke and Kowalewski-Bruwer explain. Topics such as inaccessible bus stops, non-elevator equipped doctor's offices, and the absence of auditory announcements for visually impaired individuals are among the challenges actively being addressed by the CBF. Despite improvements, there's still a long way to go until Bergisch Gladbach becomes fully accessible.
Contact:
CBF: Hauptstr. 293-297, 51465 Bergisch Gladbach, Frau Kowalewski-Bruwer, [email protected], www.cbf-rbk.de
Cafe GrenzenLos: Hauptstr. 293-297, 51465 Bergisch Gladbach, Wed-Sat 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM, [email protected], www.grenzenlos-gl.de
Despite some progress, there's still much work to be done. The CBF has been a pioneer for other disability-specific self-help groups, like those for visually impaired individuals or children with disabilities.
At the moment, the CBF is training individuals, both with and without disabilities, between the ages of 30 and 60, to become "peer" counselors. "Peer" counselors are individuals who share the same disability or life situation as those they counsel, offering guidance on subjects such as housing, work, leisure, and independent living. Equipped with their own experiences, these individuals support vulnerable individuals, with CBF staff providing additional training and support.
CBF creates structures that enable individuals with disabilities to be valuable members of society from the start. All projects and offerings from the "CBF" reflect lived inclusion, like Café GrenzenLos.
United We Stand: An Inclusive Haven
Younger individuals with disabilities can spend their leisure time at youth facilities until they're 27, and older individuals can do so at senior clubs and meeting places. However, there's a void for those aged between 27 and 60. To fill that gap, CBF worked with donations to construct an inclusive meeting place in 2016, which became Café GrenzenLos in 2019. From the outset, both young and older individuals collaborated to create the space according to their desires.
Here, people come together to create a lively and inclusive atmosphere, laugh, learn, and feel welcome. Everyone works together to ensure everyone's well-being, as the café belongs to everyone.
Activities offered at Café GrenzenLos are as diverse as its visitors, who flock here from Wednesday to Saturday, from 3 to 8 PM. The media studio is used for political discussions, the cooking studio serves as a place to try out new dishes and desserts, the tech studio teaches the use of social media and smartphones, the creative studio hosts art therapy sessions, the sewing studio produces stunning accessories and clothing, and outings are arranged.
"Café GrenzenLos has become such a transformative place because we built it together. The magic happens naturally through the fantastic people who frequent the café. Creating encounters and memories is truly exhilarating, which is why we cherish photos of our experiences at the café," explains a guest about the pleasant atmosphere at the café.
- The CBF aims to promote the social participation of people with disabilities and the establishment of comprehensive barrier-free access, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their impairments, can fully participate in and contribute to society.
- Café GrenzenLos, an inclusive meeting place created in collaboration with individuals aged 27 to 60, offers a diverse range of activities such as political discussions, cooking classes, social media and tech workshops, art therapy sessions, sewing, and outings.
- Education and self-development can be found in various forms at the CBF and Café GrenzenLos, including training programs for "peer" counselors and engaging in activities like media studio discussions for political awareness or tech studio workshops to learn social media and smartphone usage.
- For those interested in home-and-garden, lifestyle, entertainment, personal-growth, or general-news, staying updated on the efforts and achievements of organizations like the CBF and Café GrenzenLos contributes to a more inclusive society, providing valuable insights into the lives and experiences of individuals with disabilities.
