People with intellectual disabilities as editors, experts, and political representatives

Since 2017, Capito Mecklenburg-Vorpommern from Germany has been running a qualification project for people with intellectual disabilities. To date, some 1,000 participants have been trained as editors, political representatives, and experts in accessible information.

Capito Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (capito MV) is a social enterprise and licensee of capito Austria, based in Hagenow, Germany. In 2017 capito MV launched a qualification project for people with intellectual disabilities, enabling them to become political editors, political representatives, and experts in barrier-free information. It is partly financed by Aktion Mensch, a large private funding programme, but also by selling its services to public entities. Between 2017 and 2022 the programme trained approximately 1,000 people with intellectual disabilities.

Problems Targeted

For many people with intellectual disabilities, it can be difficult to find information in easy language about politics and political programmes.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Participants in capito MV’s training can become qualified political editors, podcasters, and lecturers. In these roles, they inform people with intellectual disabilities about the political process and the programmes of the various political parties. In addition, these trained participants encourage people with intellectual disabilities to participate politically in many ways: for example, by voting, becoming a poll worker, or submitting a petition. Capito MV collaborates with several partners, including various political parties, the state chancellery of the federal state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and the European Integration Center in Rostock, Germany. In collaboration with the latter, capito MV launched a podcast called “Just listen to politics” (“Politik einfach hören”), which features interviews with politicians as well as tips for political participation in easy language. The company also advocates for the political inclusion of persons with disabilities through workshops for elected officials and administrators in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The project is funded by Aktion Mensch, a grant-making non-profit organization based in Germany, and through capito MV’s own revenue. The company’s clients include the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, political parties, and educational institutions, all of which hire the enterprise to provide translations, digital solutions, and training to produce content in easy language. Capito MV plans to launch the capito mobile application and to develop e-learning courses. The company also hopes to achieve a wider dissemination of their easy-to-understand political information in traditional and digital media.

Pictures

Participants become editors, political representatives, and experts in accessible information.