Inclusive public participation in planning procedures

How can local citizen participation processes be designed in such a way that everyone can actually participate? What should inclusive civic participation look like? UfU and VdK Saxony jointly invited people to the Chemnitz Networking Forum on July 10 and 24, 2013 to discuss these questions. The networking forum is aimed at people with and without disabilities from all areas of social life, in particular Chemnitz residents, Chemnitz organizations, local politicians and the city administration. In addition to information on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, citizen participation in Germany and the current status of the participation of people with disabilities in the area of urban land-use planning, the networking forum offers space for exchange and discussion. The results of the networking forum form the basis for the development of a three-year project phase to implement inclusive citizen participation in Chemnitz. he first event focused on the question of how certain population groups, such as people with disabilities, can be better involved in construction planning procedures in the future. Ralph Beckert, regional director of the VdK Saxony social association, welcomed a total of 20 participants from politics, planning authorities, associations, self-help groups and advisory boards. Together with the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU), the VdK coordinated the kick-off event in the form of a workshop.