Tasks of the State Commissioner for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
The State Inclusion Commissioner's work is based on Section 12 of the Saxon Inclusion Act (SächsInklusG) of 2 July 2019.
In co-operation with associations for persons with disabilities, the Minister-President has appointed a full-time State Inclusion Commissioner to protect the needs of people living in Saxony with disabilities and those at risk of disability, to encourage their equal participation in the community and to assist with implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This commissioner works independently, is not bound by instructions and operates across all ministries.
Their role is to work on preventing and eliminating discrimination against persons with disabilities, ensuring they have equal opportunities to participate in the community, enabling them to live independently and making sure all regulations supporting persons with disabilities are upheld.
To do this, the commissioner advises the state government on matters relating to policies for persons with disabilities, as well as on further developing and implementing these, and sits on numerous specialist state-government committees. They almost act as an intermediary between persons with disabilities, their associations, their organisations and their community advocates, and the political level.
The state ministries are required to involve the State Inclusion Commissioner in all general or specific legal, regulatory or other projects early on insofar as these deal with or affect matters relating to persons with disabilities having equal rights to participate in the community.
To ensure interests are represented at all different levels, the State Inclusion Commissioner works closely with the »State Work Group of Local Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities for the Administrative Districts and Independent Municipalities in the Free State of Saxony« (LAG-B). They are also a member of the »Conference of Federal and State Commissioners for Matters relating to Persons with Disabilities« (KBB).
The current aim is to take further steps to increase inclusion in Saxony by evaluating and updating the state-government action plan for implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
