Messe Düsseldorf/Constanze Tillmann
Choose, touch, and try out products – experience REHACARE live and in-person again in 2022
12/09/2022
You’re probably familiar with this scenario: You order a fabulous piece of clothing or shoes online, only to be terribly disappointed when the item arrives but doesn’t fit. It’s an all-too-familiar problem for people with disabilities who depend on these resources. Whether it’s a mobility aid or adapted car, the device must be customized to fit the needs of the individual to provide support.
Isabelle Sievers
Isabelle Sievers – That's how she rolls
07/09/2022
A prosthetic arm has given Isabelle Sievers a lot of quality of life and self-confidence. In just three years, she has overcome many lows and continued her self development. Her strong will and perseverance have helped her to achieve even the seemingly impossible. In our interview, she emphasizes that everyone has their own strengths and can achieve anything.
CreativeNature_nl/envato
Living a self-determined life: accessible travel around the world
29/08/2022
Get in your camper to get away: Each year, thousands of Germans make this dream come true as is evidenced by the number of current new registrations of camper vans, travel trailers and recreational vehicles. Standard models often include many practical features - but unfortunately, accessible solutions are still few and far between.
Veigel GmbH + Co. KG
Electromobility: technology support for people with disabilities
29/08/2022
For persons with reduced mobility, participation in social and civic life is often only an option if the conditions are right: Wheelchair users need accessible designs to train stations or bus stops to use these modes of transportation. Unfortunately, many places still lack accessible accommodations, which is why many people rely on cars to ensure their mobility and transportation.
Katja Tefiki
Katja Tefiki – That's how she rolls
24/08/2022
Katja Tefiki had to completely reorganize her everyday life after she became paraplegic. She got her driver's license and today her car and wheelchair are her indispensable companions. She loves long car rides and paragliding is also one of her passions. How she rolls otherwise, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Tahina Andale
Tahina Andale – That's how she rolls
10/08/2022
Whether it's a cane or a walker, walking aids can make a significant contribution to greater mobility and a more self-determined life. Tahina Andale has also made this experience. Why the path to this realization was not always easy and what else has helped her to cope better with her chronic illness, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Alain Zanchetta
Alain Zanchetta – That's how he rolls
27/07/2022
Alain Zanchetta is a fighter. He would have to overcome difficulties early on, but he has gained a lot of strength and confidence as a result. As a designer, he develops inclusive design products himself to help other people. At the same time, his job offers him the security and perspective he craves. At REHACARE.com he tells us how he rolls otherwise.
Leben mit PEG
Bastian K. – That's how he rolls
13/07/2022
Bastian K. is a summer person at heart. He enjoys spending time with family and friends. In doing so, the lack of accessibility often causes him more difficulties than the progressive muscle weakness he has been living with for many years. When he is not on the road, he writes about his "life with PEG" on his own blog. On REHACARE.com he tells us how he rolls otherwise.
Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann
Digital assistive technologies: Modern tools to make life more accessible
13/07/2022
People with disabilities often rely on assistance in different ways. Whether it's speech computers, screen readers, i.e. software that vocalizes on-screen texts, or special power wheelchairs – what all assistance has in common here is that it works thanks to digital components.
Ornamin
Small things that have big benefits: daily living aids help make everyday life easier
27/06/2022
Opening a jar or getting on a bike to ride to the store: small things that many of us around the world do every day and tend to take for granted. But these activities are not a matter of course for everyone. Daily living aids can make a big difference to people with disabilities in making their lives easier.
Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann
Daily living aids for people with disabilities
27/06/2022
Reaching for a bottle and opening it when you're thirsty or quickly making a sandwich when you're hungry. What many people take for granted can be a problem for people with disabilities. In these situations, analog or digital daily living aids can be used to maintain independence. Read more about this in the Topic of the Month!
ostfriesland.travel
Accessible trip planning: City sightseeing or active travel adventures?
22/06/2022
How do you want to spend your annual summer vacation? Are you headed for the beach or is skiing in the mountains more your style? No matter the destination, most people use their vacation time for a relaxing escape. Unfortunately, planning a trip can be stressful and is especially challenging for people with disabilities, as they must find accessible accommodations and inclusive destinations.
Andrea Francolini-www.afrancolini.com
Inclusion in water sports: "Disability is no longer an issue once you get in the boat"
13/06/2022
What does inclusive sailing entail? Just ask Elke Paatz. She practically grew up on a sailboat and has become disabled as the result of a sports accident. Paatz is the contact person for inclusive (adaptive) sailing on behalf of the German Sailing Federation (German: Deutscher Segler Verband), DSV.
Timo Hermann | Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Leisure, sports and travel
27/05/2022
For most people, the thought of water is associated with relaxation. A day at or on the sea, boating, swimming or water sports. But what of this is possible if you are in a wheelchair, for example? We can reveal a few things. Read more in our Topic of the Month!
seventyfourimages
The joy of water sports includes people with disabilities
27/05/2022
Water sports such as diving, sailing, or kiteboarding evoke a feeling of freedom! You don’t have to travel the five oceans of the world to get in on the fun. Depending on the type of sport, your local man-made lake or public swimming pool can also do the trick.
Elena Zubiaurre / privat
Elena Zubiaurre – That's how she rolls
04/05/2022
Living with an invisible disability – Elena Zubiaurre knows how it feels. She lives with multiple sclerosis (MS). But strangers don't see it. That's why she would like society to be more careful and attentive. She tells REHACARE.com which everyday aids and auxiliary means should also be invented and why home office and mandatory masks are a blessing for her.
Dot Incorporation
People with vision impairments: The Dot Pad bridges the information gap
21/04/2022
The new Dot Pad is not only smaller and lighter, but also much cheaper than conventional tactile displays – making them more affordable and accessible for people with vision impairments. Dot Inc makes the online world of images more accessible and aims to improve other areas as well. In our interview the Senior Manager Mergel Takam talks about the advantages and technology behind the Dot Pad.
Niklas Arnold Photography
Dietmar Sen – That's how he rolls
20/04/2022
Dietmar Sen doesn't want to have to hide or be ashamed of his weaknesses. His message: "Let's be authentic!" He tells REHACARE.com which things he wishes for and what he misses from his youth.
Yvy Anheier
Alina Esleben – That's how she rolls
06/04/2022
Instead of new assistive devices, Alina Esleben would like to see a normalization of accessible public spaces and transportation. On REHACARE.com she shares her thoughts on local production within the assistive technology industry and how she rolls otherwise.
PantherMedia / Youzhny
Adaptive fashion and care textiles
28/03/2022
When it comes to fashion, tastes differ, but actually everyone attaches importance to clothing that fits well and comfortably! But to find clothes that fit is sometimes not so easy.
PantherMedia / HayDmitriy
Adaptive clothing: designed to fit
28/03/2022
Clothes should fit comfortably. They should make you feel great and be easy to put on and take off. Unfortunately, many "off-the-rack" clothes don’t meet these criteria. Those who don’t sport the measurements of the average woman or man find themselves at a distinct disadvantage. This includes people who use wheelchairs and people with restricted mobility.
privat
Natalie Pinnisch – That's how she rolls
09/03/2022
Getting away from everyday life, exploring the world, going to concerts and bars with friends – Natalie Pinnisch enjoys her self-determined life to the fullest and doesn't let her neuromuscular disease stop her. On REHACARE.com the 35-year-old from Hamburg reveals what she considers a great day and how she rolls otherwise.
PantherMedia/bitpics
Accessible bathrooms: fostering and maintaining greater autonomy and independence
28/02/2022
For most people, the bathroom is their happy place and sanctuary – which is why it is important to remove any barriers for safety, ease, and comfort. Unfortunately, this is not always a given when it comes to people with disabilities. Unless you live in a new building, you may have to remodel bathrooms and toilet rooms to accommodate your special needs.
PantherMedia / BrunoWeltmann
Living – accessible and smart
28/02/2022
How does accessible living work? What do you have to pay attention to? These are important questions that young people (should) ask themselves, for example, if they are planning to build a single-family home. Read more about this in the Topic of the Month February.
PantherMedia / Andriy Popov
Accessible housing: a win-win situation
28/02/2022
Many homes and apartments are not accessible to people with disabilities. For years, builders of larger accommodations must comply with corresponding accessible design and construction requirements. Getting into an accessibility mindset right from the start benefits everyone!
Udo Fischer | nunsichtbar.de
Cassandra Mae Spittmann – That's how she rolls
01/12/2021
Cassandra Mae Spittmann discovered the world of rhythm at the age of two. While she started out playing the tabla with her feet, the 19-year-old now elicits the notes with her hands. She has remained true to her preference for Indian music. With her voice and her songs, however, she is reaching an ever-growing audience worldwide. At REHACARE.com she tells us how she rolls otherwise.privat
Anna Fee – That's how she rolls
17/11/2021
If society doesn't provide accessibility, people have to do it themselves. That's why, Anna Fee has not only become active in the field of fashion. What "going your own path" means to her, why a flight was her greatest adventure to date and how she rolls otherwise, she tells us at REHACARE.com.
Liftstar GmbH
Stylish and innovative design: taking it to the top with the Lifton home elevator
11/11/2021
Raúl Krauthausen recently discovered how much an elevator can make your life easier and add accessibility to your home. These days, the disability rights activist uses the LiftonTRIO Home Elevator from Lifton GmbH to navigate his apartment in Berlin. Reason enough for REHACARE.com to ask the Liftstar Group what makes the Lifton home elevator so different from other systems.
dzb lesen
Touch, hear, participate: Assistive technology helps conquer visual impairment
28/10/2021
Blindness or visual impairment means a loss or partial loss of the sense of sight. What it doesn't mean is that those who are impacted by this must aim lower or feel inferior. An abundance of vision aids does a fantastic job of replacing the sense of sight in the best way possible.
my_own.little.world
Antonia Feistenauer – That's how she rolls
06/10/2021
When you are disabled and/or chronically ill, self-acceptance is an important step in dealing with yourself and your disability – or in Antonia Feistenauer's case, her disabilities and diseases. What or who helps her in everyday life, what – on the other hand – would help society in dealing with disabilities, she told REHACARE.com.
PARAVAN GmbH
Promoting career self-determination with adaptive utility work machines
28/09/2021
Mobility is a key ability to live a self-determined life. It pertains to both the private and the professional realm: Agriculture, logistics, public service – none of them are possible without automobility. But who converts commercial vehicles to make them accessible for people with disabilities? And who pays for the costs? REHACARE.com looked into the matter.
Tobias Kroll
Tobi Kroll – That's how he rolls
16/06/2021
How can we arrive in an inclusive world? Tobi Kroll has a few suggestions, because he is always thinking about barriers – both structural and social. But he also has some ideas about how society can accommodate people with disabilities. Who he would like to discuss our society with and how he otherwise rolls, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
Drazen Lovric
Ronja Holze – That's how she rolls
02/06/2021
Sport has a special significance in Ronja Holzes life: First it helped her to accept her new life situation, then she fought her way up to the world championship and into the national squad in just a few years. Which sports she is talking about here, which auxiliary mean is particularly important for her life as an athlete and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Lukas Kapfer | www.th-10.de
Full participation: paving the way to an inclusive society
31/05/2021
Whether it affects cultural, political, economic, or social life – people with disabilities have a right to participation. This was recognized and stipulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. But how is society as a whole implementing this directive? How are inclusion and participation put into practice and what role do companies play in promoting diversity?
Visit Frankfurt, Andi Weiland | Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Making society more inclusive: with social commitment to greater participation
31/05/2021
Inclusion and participation – keywords that can evoke very different emotions. The fact is that much more needs to be done for an inclusive society. But there is no one right way. Because participation must be implemented in many different areas. Companies also play an important role in this context – and are already taking decisive steps in the right direction.
Lego-Oma-Team
Rita Ebel – That's how she rolls
19/05/2021
Rita Ebel has become known as the "Lego granny": Since accessibility is still a scarce commodity, she designs ramps made of interlocking plastic bricks. Boxes of the colourful bricks are stored in her house and are transformed into ramps with creative patterns. Why she herself is dependent on accessibility, why she never loses her smile and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Holger Schütz
Anne Schütz – That's how she rolls
05/05/2021
Anne Schütz already learned in primary school that no distinction should be made between people with or without disabilities. So it's no surprise that she would like to meet the namesake of her primary school. Who that is, which device means independence for her and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Andi Weiland | Boehringer Ingelheim, Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Assistive devices in the workplace: Making communication accessible
26/04/2021
Especially for blind and visually impaired people, the lack of or non-working augmentative communication devices frequently means that they have no prospect of participating in the workplace. We discussed with Bruno Behrendt from Papenmeier why screen readers are sometimes nothing more than pretty tools and learned why technical support is THE perennial issue when it comes to customer service.
Steven Clarey
Lily Rice – That's how she rolls
10/02/2021
Lily Rice can usually be found at the skatepark, refining her WCMX techniques in her pink wheelchair. The training is paying off: Lily entered the scene in 2017, two years later she was Women's World Champion. It was only logical that her biggest challenge to date was in the halfpipe – what it was, who motivates her and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Myd'l
Myd'l: Diverse, innovative and individual – ramps for all occasions
28/01/2021
Shopping – especially in city centers – can quickly turn from pleasure to frustration. Namely, when stores are only accessible via one or more steps. The French company Myd'l has a solution ready for every barrier in terms of accessibility – whether private or business. Successfully active in international business for 22 years, the manufacturer now also offers its products in Germany.
Ines Zeifert
Lilli Zeifert – That's how she rolls
27/01/2021
Lilli Zeifert has already seen a lot of the world. Perhaps that's why her great love is for what there is still to discover beyond the Earth: Whatever there is to find out about astrophysics – Lilli wants to know. Who she thinks are the smartest minds of all time, what she would like to discuss with them and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Lucia Titkova
Evelyn Brezina – That's how she rolls
13/01/2021
Vienna from a wheelchair perspective – this is how Evelyn Brezina captures all the beauty in her surroundings in her photos. Because she really loves taking pictures. What assistive devices she would like to have for this passion, who she would like to ask as many questions as possible and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Kim Cremer
Kim Cremer – That's how he rolls
16/12/2020
Kim Cremer is a doer, he doesn't let anything stop him. And even though he doesn't need a wheelchair himself, he sees where society still has a lot to catch up when it comes to accessibility – both in everyday life and in people's minds. Who has always encouraged him in his doer mentality, how this mentality fits in with his big dream and and how he otherwise rolls, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
beta-web
Standing Ovation facilitates mobility at the workplace
12/12/2019
Sitting while standing up – Standing Ovation makes this oxymoron possible. The rail system with its C-shaped seat bar and seat lifting unit allows Austrian chef Peter Lammer to sustain his job despite an 80 percent disability rating pertaining to his legs. With REHACARE.com he talked about the invention that brought back his zest for life and the feedback he received at this year's trade fair.
VOX / TVNOW / Frank W. Hempel
Mobility: Overcoming barriers with Wheelblades
28/11/2019
Whether they are on vacation in the mountains or brave winter weather at home – people with mobility impairments want to take precautions to arrive safely at their destination. Patrick Mayer is personally affected by disability and developed two products that enable wheelchair and walking aid users to master these situations: Wheelblades and the SafetyFoot.
Zahout-Heil
SmAccLab: Smart auxiliary means for everyone
28/05/2019
Accessible and realistic – that’s how auxiliary aids should be in the eyes of Professor Carsten Zahout. Students at the Smart Accessibility Laboratory (SmAccLab) are working on technical solutions that fulfill these requirements and lead to increased participation for people with disabilities. REHACARE.com found out how product engineering and inclusion join forces.
Carina Hettwer
Self-determined living: careunities creates flat sharing for people with physical disabilities
24/01/2019
For many people, living in a shared accommodation is a matter of course. But how well does this work if you have a physical disability and require assistance? This is where careunities comes in. The online platform matches people up with future roommates and also plans to retrofit buildings for accessibility, thus creating more shared living spaces.
Timo Hermann | Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Tourism for All: "Traveling is not just about physical access"
19/07/2018
Tourism is for everybody. The aim of the British organisation Tourism for All is to make travel accessible. Whether travelers, policy makers or companies, Tourism for All wants to operate with and for everyone. REHACARE.com asked, how the attitude of companies and politicians towards people with disabilities has changed and what the European tourism market has to offer.
M-Enabling Summit
M-Enabling Forum: "The best assistive technologies cannot be useful if our digital environment is not accessible"
21/06/2018
Self-determined living needs accessibility. This does not only apply to step-free entrance for wheelchair users, but also for the digital environment. For example, when blind people surf the internet with a screen reader, they need web sites that are accessible. But reality often looks different. Reason enough for the M-Enabling Forum to focus on this topic at this year's REHACARE.
panthermedia.net/Valeriy_Al
TTC Wheel-Trans: Accessible transport for people with disabilities in Toronto
17/05/2018
In Canada, the North Americans are far ahead of us Germans when it comes to accessibility. If you are a guest in Toronto, you not only have the possibility to travel with the usual public transport, but you can also opt for the 100 percent accessible alternative and use Wheel-Trans.
Johannes Franke
"At the TUECHTIG coworking space, people with and without disabilities are working together – and not just next to each other"
22/03/2018
Maximum flexibility to encourage ideas, effectively sharing office space: coworking spaces have become a part of many major cities. In 2017, Berlin featured about one hundred of them, but none of them were comprehensively accessible. That’s something Stefanie Trzecinski from KOPF, HAND + FUSS gGmbH wanted to change. That was the moment, the idea for "TUECHTIG – Raum für Inklusion" was born.
FullAccess
"At FullAccess, the 'Accessibility All Areas' slogan says it all"
15/02/2018
Two music enthusiasts were fed up with the lack of leisure activity choices and programs for people with disabilities. That’s why Christina Riedler and Martina Gollner decided to set up their own business with FullAccess and try to make concert promoters aware of people with disabilities as prospective customers and thus contribute to making society more tolerant.
Ledwig
Self-guided museum visits for visually impaired people
18/01/2018
Visually impaired and blind people can now enjoy stunning visits to the City Museum Trier thanks to audio tracks, tactile reproductions, and replicas. Together with students who participated in the "Cross Media" seminar as part of their studies at the University of Trier, Design Professor Christopher Ledwig developed a one-of-a-kind multimedia service in Germany: the so-called "blind kit" trolley.
Tim de Gruisbourne
"Inclusive communication design is both accessible and attractive"
15/06/2017
For many, recognizing and understanding characters is an important prerequisite to social participation. Inclusive communication design helps people with visual impairments to accomplish this. REHACARE.com spoke with designer and expert of the German Association for Blind and Visually Impaired People, Florian Adler. He has developed a digital guide to inclusive communication design.
Bookster Frankfurt Stephan Jockel
"Hardly any texts by famous authors are specifically written in Simple Language"
20/04/2017
Literature should be accessible to all – including people who depend on texts written in Simple English. A project in Frankfurt, Germany, now wants to make this possible. REHACARE.com spoke with Hauke Hückstädt, the director of the Literaturhaus Frankfurt about the "Frankfurt, deine Geschichte. Literatur in Einfacher Sprache" project.
Rolli auf Trab
"Horse riding is a sport people with and without impairments are able to experience together on equal footing"
20/04/2017
More self-confidence and independence – things you can learn from horse riding for example. People with disabilities can take this important step with "Rolli auf Trab" (English: Trotting with Wheelchairs). REHACARE.com spoke with Sandra Glöckler of "Rolli auf Trab" about the lust for life that horse riding inspires and the interaction and experiences with the animals.
panthermedia.net/belchonock
Books for the blind: "IT corporations lead the way. They consider accessibility a selling point"
16/02/2017
A wizarding student who triumphs over evil. A girl who meets the love of her life. Literature has many facets and captivates us with wonderful stories day in and day out. Yet not everyone has access to these texts because accessible books for blind or visually impaired people are few and far between.
WDR/EUKOBA
Accessibility: "We need a shift in awareness in the retail sector"
22/12/2016
Shopping with a disability is no easy feat: almost every store is not accessible. But what does accessibility in retail actually mean? REHACARE.com spoke with Patrick Dohmen of the EUKOBA Association about the idea behind the LernLaden (English: Learning Store) and the awareness and sensitization project for retailers, employees and apprentices.
Andreas Pöschek
Inclusive storyteller: "You can definitely make a difference and change things"
24/11/2016
There are some unique and interesting stories about accessibility and disability. Martin Habacher is someone who tells these stories. His goal is to find and then share them with the world on his YouTube channel. REHACARE.com spoke with Martin Habacher about his most beautiful story and his motivation to look beyond what he sees.
Lutum+Tappert
Accessibility should be considered from the start for medical practices
28/04/2016
Disabled parking spaces, lower counters, stair lifts, and elevators – those are just a few of the provisions of an accessible medical practice. Yet many physician offices don’t meet these requirements. To make it easier for people with disabilities to find available accessible medical practices close-by, the "Accessible Practice" project has created a directory.
beta-web/Günther
If you buy them, some smartphones are already accessible
14/04/2016
A quick check on your smartphone to see when the next bus leaves or letting your friend know via WhatsApp that you are running late: those are mundane situations for many people. Yet how accessible are smartphones actually for visually impaired and blind people? REHACARE.com spoke with Simon Janatzek. He is visually impaired and tells us which apps are helpful in everyday life.
bff/Jörg Farys
"Suse" helps abused and battered women and girls with disabilities
23/02/2016
Representative studies show: women and girls with disabilities face significantly more violence than women without disabilities. Yet they rarely seek help since their disability often makes access to therespective support systems difficult. The "Suse" Project offers affected persons accessible support services, for instance in the form of Easy English.
PIKSL
"PIKSL focuses on the removal of digital barriers"
26/01/2016
Digital transformation does not only cause problems for persons with disabilities. Companies are also facing digital barriers they need to overcome. The PIKSL Lab makes digital inclusion its priority: together, individuals with and without disabilities work on removing digital barriers. In this interview with REHACARE.de, Project Manager Tobias Marczinzik explains the PIKSL concept.
"Comprehensive accessibility would benefit all of us"
12/02/2015
What is it like when you have to manage everyday life in a wheelchair? And what effects do age-related limitations have on mobility? Interested parties can experience this with the help of a wheelchair course and an age simulation suit. REHACARE.com spoke with Hedwig Reiffs from the Self-Help Organization of Physically Disabled Persons Bonn, who recently attended this kind of adventure day.