Jekob fights for jobs: families desperately wanted!

Jekob fights for jobs: families desperately wanted!

In Cologne, the participation of people with multiple disabilities is increasingly coming into focus. The “Jekob” initiative, founded by committed parents, calls for jobs for people like Martin Fuchß, an 18-year-old young person with complex support needs. Martin's story is problematic because he has suffered from severe multiple disabilities since birth and requires comprehensive care. Despite his five professional internships, he was rejected by a total of eleven workshops because they supposedly did not expect a “minimum level of economically viable performance”. His mother, Rebecca Fuchß, is dissatisfied with the situation and would like to initiate a broader discussion about participation and integration. Rundschau Online reports that the initiative aims to increase awareness of the needs of its children.

The legal basis that is intended to enable participation in working life is anchored in the Social Security Code (SGB IX). However, this could only remain a theoretical determination as long as workshops shy away from accepting people with high support needs. In North Rhine-Westphalia there is a lack of alternative offers, which often leads to social isolation. One way out could be to create external jobs where people with disabilities have the opportunity to gain professional experience and be integrated into the general labor market. These outdoor workplaces are organized by workshops for disabled people (WfbM) and offer many fields of employment, including catering, gardening and landscape maintenance as well as warehouse work. DRK emphasizes the importance of these measures.

The challenges of integration

However, the reality is often different. Every year, workshops in Cologne reject an estimated 60 to 70 young people with a high need for support, which leads to major problems for families like those of Martin and Barbara Ostendorf. Ostendorf ultimately organized alternative care options for her son Jan, who has Down syndrome, because the workshop could not meet his needs. This is an example of the great need to find innovative solutions. The “Jekob” initiative plans to become active as an association to draw attention to grievances and to create clearer responsibilities.

In addition to the challenges in the workshops, WfbM offer various offers. In Cologne, for example, there are contents such as entrance and vocational training areas as well as support groups for people who cannot be employed in the work area. According to Barmstädte Disabled Aid, this structure enables the people affected to further develop their social skills and professional skills.

A look into the future

The Jekob initiative is committed to ensuring that the voices of people with disabilities are heard and that the necessary steps are taken to improve the situation. One way out could be to change public perception and intensify the dialogue about participation and support for people with high support needs. Martin's reference to a workshop in Bergheim shows that there can also be solutions if the right steps are taken.

The members of Jekob now meet every two months and are always happy to see new faces who want to support their cause. There is still a lot to do in Cologne to break down the barriers to participation in working life.