City administration trainees put themselves in the shoes of people with disabilities
RheineAs part of their induction week, the new trainees at Rheine were given the opportunity to get to know the everyday lives of people with disabilities better and develop a greater awareness of the various challenges they face in a training course on the topic of “People with disabilities as colleagues, as citizens and as guests at events”.
In addition to theoretical knowledge, the focus was on self-awareness. To this end, the trainees took on different roles. With the help of simulated glasses with different visual impairments, sleep masks to imitate blindness and long canes, they were able to put themselves in the shoes of people with blindness or visual impairments. Equipped with earplugs and hearing protection headphones, they were also able to experience the everyday life of people with hearing impairments. In wheelchairs, the situation of people with walking disabilities also became clear.
The tour took them through the city center. The trainees encountered a wide variety of barriers, but also solutions and aids to overcome them. Back at the town hall, the following questions were asked: What barriers are there? What aids and solutions are available? How can I meet those affected in everyday working life? What other forms of disability are there? What barriers are there? How can these barriers be overcome?
The trainees were accompanied and supported by Claus Meier, Chairman of the Advisory Board for People with Disabilities, and Hermann Wellen from the Senior Citizens’ Advisory Board.
Photos: City Rheine