Local organization Halle-Saal wins grant funds from the regional administration.
In the heart of Germany, the project "Gutes geht digital" is making waves, breaking down barriers to digital engagement for people with disabilities. This initiative, spearheaded by the Halle-Saalkreis Volunteer Agency in Saxony-Anhalt, has been so successful that it recently won a nationwide prize for digital engagement by 'Germany safe online' in September 2021.
The online platform, www.gutes-geht.digital, is the hub of this project, providing information about the funded project and serving as a platform for associations and organizations in Saxony-Anhalt to use digital tools for engagement. The project's focus is on promoting cohesion, democracy, and inclusion in Saxony-Anhalt through digital means, now with a specific focus on people with disabilities.
State Secretary Susi Möbbeck, the Integration Commissioner of the state government of Saxony-Anhalt, emphasized the need to remove barriers for voluntary work for people with disabilities. She presented the funding decision to Christine Sattler of the Halle-Saalkreis Volunteer Agency e.V. The funding for the project's expansion is provided from the state program for democracy, diversity, and openness, as well as from the state action plan "make it easy - Our way to an inclusive society".
Since the end of 2020, the project "Gutes geht digital" has been offering training, expert days, office hours, and consultations to help associations and organizations use digital tools. The aim is to inspire more people to engage digitally, making participation independent of time and place.
The key details and objectives of this project, and others like it, focus on removing digital barriers to enable full participation. This is achieved through accessible technology and tailored support measures. The projects aim to ensure digital platforms comply with accessibility laws, improve digital skills, and foster participation in cultural, educational, and social life.
For instance, the project supports compliance with accessibility standards such as the European Accessibility Act and national laws, requiring websites and digital services to provide accessible content and user interfaces. It also supports digital skills and career guidance for young people with disabilities, and raises awareness and builds expertise on digital accessibility within organizations.
The main objective is to enhance inclusion by removing legal and technical barriers in digital environments, providing targeted funding and opportunities that empower people with disabilities, facilitating their engagement and participation in cultural, educational, and economic activities, and ensuring enforcement of accessibility compliance and providing support for continuous improvement.
These projects combine regulatory compliance, skill development, cultural inclusion, and digital accessibility advancement to create an environment where people with disabilities in Saxony-Anhalt can fully participate digitally and socially.
[1] European Accessibility Act: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12523-Digital-Accessibility-Act [2] Kunsthaus Lisa special residencies for women with disabilities: https://www.kunsthauslisa.de/en/projects/residency [3] WCAG 2.1 Level AA: https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/ [4] European Social Fund (ESF): https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/funding-opportunities/horizon-2020/european-social-fund_en
- The project "Gutes geht digital" not only provides a platform for associations and organizations in Saxony-Anhalt to use digital tools, but also focuses on promoting education by ensuring digital platforms comply with accessibility laws such as the European Accessibility Act and national laws, thereby improving digital skills for individuals with disabilities.
- In addition to fostering cultural and social participation through the use of technology, the project "Gutes geht digital" also advocates for lifestyle changes by raising awareness and building expertise on digital accessibility within organizations, enabling people with disabilities to fully engage and participate in various aspects of life, including economic activities.
