Welcome to Germany
EuroCurrency in Germany
Today’s Weather
2
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Wednesday
Basic Country Profile
Location: Western Europe
Population: 82 million
Capital: Berlin
Major language: German
Major religion: Christianity
Currency: Euro
Terrain: Varied
Climate: Continental
Dial code: +49
Time zone: GMT+2
Emergency Numbers:
110- Police
112- Fire Brigade & Ambulance
Disability Legislations and Policies
Germany ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 30 March 2007. They are approximately 7.6 million persons with disabilities in Germany. You can find more information on disability data by visiting the Destatis website.
German law (Grundgesetz) forbids discrimination on the basis of physical or mental disability. The Social Welfare Code IX (SGBIX), which came in to force in April 2001, is based on the idea of equal opportunities and participation rather than merely welfare. It focuses on rehabilitation and access for persons with disabilities and stipulates levels of support depending on measurement of the degree of disability.
2006 General Equal Treatment Act – Protects persons with disabilities from employment & workplace discrimination.
Travel Related Information
At German airports, Lufthansa and Air Berlin offer services for travelers with disabilities, and the German National Railway, Deutsche Bahn, maintains a mobility resource webpage. The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) and the German Hotel Association (IHA) maintain directories of accessible accommodations.
Germany is working to make the country a place where everyone can travel including persons with disabilities with ease and without barriers. Travel for All is one of the most up-to-date online platforms focusing on Germany’s accessibility infrastructure. The “Barrier-Free” accessible travel database by the The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) makes finding accessible lodging, attractions and transportation throughout Germany easier for travelers with disabilities. Travel for All allows travelers with disabilities to search a wide range of facilities throughout Germany, by category, location and specific access criteria. For more information, go to Barrier Free Travel website.
Germany has invested heavily in the accessibility sector of its economy. It has chosen to market services to the disability sectors under the umbrella of “barrier-free” access. Many cities, regions and tourist attractions in Germany are able to provide some amazing facilities, for all visitors – including wheelchair users, people with mobility, hearing and vision disabilities, so much so that in December 2012 Berlin was awarded the title of “European Access City of the Year” by the European Commission.
Berlin is accessible city for persons with disabilities and offers many tours for people who are blind or hard of hearing or deaf, a range of city tours on offer for visitors with disabilities. These include ferry, bus or coach tours, as well as tours for people in wheelchairs to explore the city.
Germany is easily accessible by air, car or rail and once you get there, travelling around by public transport is even easier. Services such as Deutsche Bahn’s dedicated mobility hotline will make it possible for anyone to get on board every train.
http://www.germany.travel/