German Federation of Blind and Visually Impaired People
|
|
German Federation of Blind and Visually Impaired People |
Figures
and Facts
The
following key information is based on a survey undertaken in
various Bundeslaender (States) and parts of the country as well as on
the results of research on the employment status of blind and
visually impaired people in the state of Northrhine Westphalia, which
was carried out in 1995 by the German polling institute
"Infas".
According to these
sources, the number of blind people in Germany is 155,000.
Compared with 1990, the
number of blind people aged 1 to 18 years is slightly decreasing (by
about 0,4 per cent), the age group 18 to 79 has remained almost
constant, the number of blind people over 80 is moderately increasing
(by 3,3 per cent). About 11 per cent of all blind people live in a
home.
According to information published in 1994 six per cent of all blind people can be considered being in severe need of care.
About 28 per cent of blind people of employment age (ages 18 to 60) have a job, i.e. nationally 10,000 persons. The highest employment rate, i.e. 42 per cent, was recorded for the age band 21 to 49 years. If we distinguish between those who were born blind and people who are adventiously blind, the employment rates are 42 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.
Partially Sighted
People
No reliable information
is available regarding the number of partially sighted people (vision
1/10 to less than 1/50). Using reliable sources of the former German
Democratic Republic, the total number of this group can be estimated
at approximately 500,000.
BENEFITS FOR BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PEOPLE IN GERMANY
Selected Key data presented in tables
The total number of blind people in Germany is 155,000, i.e. individuals eligible to and receiving blindness allowance under State Law regulations.
|
|
|
|
male
female
1 up to
60 52
48
60 up to
79 34 66
80 and
older 24 76
total
38 62
Onset of
Blindness
(numbers in
per cent)
Ages
0 to
5
1,1
6 to
17
4,4
18 bis
39
9,7
40 bis
59
13,4
60 bis
64
5,4
65 bis
79
24,7
80 and
older 41,3
|
|
Receiving vocational
training 9
Working
28
Unemployed
8
Retired
36
Suffering
from Chronic disease 7
Active in
the
home
12
|
|
|
|
Braille
Literacy
a)
contracted
braille
23.000
b)
uncontracted braille
only
6.000
c)
total
29.000
Deafblind
950
Diabetics
2.600
Practising
sports
2.300
Skittles
(sports)
320
Chess
players
(tournaments)
740
Users of
guide dogs for the blind 1.600
|
|
BENEFITS FOR BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PEOPLE IN GERMANY
Germany has a population of 155,000 blind and about half a million of partially sighted people. Blindness and partial sight are linked with a variety of causes and are experienced and coped with in individually different ways. However, apart from experiencing the meaning of blindness in a subjective manner, there is an objective level, i.e. a definitonal scheme used for classifying blindness and partial sight.
What is blindness?
In Germany, the level of residual vision is expressed in per cent or in the form of an arithmetic fraction. For instance, an individual who is not able to see an object at a distance of 10 m or less, has only 10 per cent rather than 100 per cent vision. Expressed as an arithmetic fraction, his or her vision is 1/10. A person is considered blind if his or her vision is 2 per cent or 1/50 in the better eye and with correction.
Some blind people are able to see an object at some distance, but only when it is directly in front of them. This means they are not able to see the same object when it is more to the side, on the right or left , or below or above them. In other words, their visual field is severely restricted or they suffer from what is referred to as tunnel vision.
What is partial sight?
Partially sighted people see more than blind people but less than the visually handicapped. People are partially sighted when, by simplification, their vision is 5 per cent or 1/20 in the better eye and with correction.
What is visually handicapped?
An individual is considered visually handicapped when his or her vision, in the better eye and with correction glasses is no better than 10 per cent or 1/10.
What benefits are in place for blind and partially sighted people in Germany to get the assistance and financial support they need to have in order to cope with everyday life problems?
With the exception of special medical problems, the German Federation of Blind and Visually Impaired People (DBSV) and their regional organisations provide advice and information in the field of visual impairment, particularly regarding statutory benefits, and help members in applying for blindness allowance.
Regarding eligibility for blindness allowance the following requirements have to be clarified:
Firstly, the cause of blindness needs to be looked at:
- If blindness is the result of war, military service, criminal violence or the implementation of state vaccination programmes, the applicant is eligible to receive care allowance under Federal Pension Law.
- If blindness has been assessed as the result of an accident at work or an occupational disease, the applicant is eligible to receive care allowance payments out of a special insurance fund protecting against occupational accidents.
- If none of the above conditions are true, an application for blindness allowance can be
made. Blindness allowance is paid at different rates, depending on the respective social legislation existing in the individual German States (Bundesländer). The average monthly rate for an adult blind individual is 1,000 DM.
In order to qualify for blindness allowance or any of the above benefits, the applicant has to establish that he or she is a registered blind person through submitting a medical certificate or disability card containing the entry "bl" for "blind person". The "bl" classification gives access to a number of services and programmes. An application for a disability card must be made, as a rule, with the local welfare office; the card is issued for any person whose degree of disability is assessed 50/100 and more. Blind and partially sighted people with a vision of 1/20 or less, in the better eye, fall within the 100 degree category.
Assistive Technology
Special devices are important because they enable blind people to lead independent lives to the fullest possible extent. Many technical devices, such as braille computers, braille printers, braille displays or enlarged monitors are financed only if they are used in the workplace and serve the function of vocational rehabilitation. Generally, adaptation of the workplace using assistive technology is financed through the Central Welfare Office and the local Labour Office.
Reading devices used for other than professional purposes may be financed under statutory national health schemes if the applicant can justify with good arguments that using the device is indispensable.
Other important devices, such as white canes and mobility and orientation training, familiarizing the beneficiary with its proper use, but also training in daily living activities are financed under national health schemes.
Guide dogs for the blind are a further important resource for coping with everyday life problems.
Blind people who love animals and whose circumstances are favourable can apply for a guide dog, including instruction on using the dog, provision of accessory equipment (harness), and a monthly lump sum for maintaining the dog. To apply it is necessary to get a doctor's prescription. Blind people who are not medically insured can apply with the social welfare office for support with resettlement under the German Social Security Legislation (BSHG).
Tax relief and other benefits
Blind and partially sighted people get tax relief.
The level of flat amount which can be deducted as extraordinary burden from the taxable income depends on the applicant's degree of disability. Part of the deductable expenditure is, amongst others, money paid for employing a home help. There is also tax relief for car owners. Visually impaired tradesmen who do not employ more than two workers are exempted from paying turnover tax.
Severely disabled people whose disability card classifies them as individual with severe mobility impairment, helpless or blind persons can use local public transport free of charge.
Concessionary fares are also available for this group on long-distance trains.
Articles for the blind, i.e. documents written in braille are delivered postage-free. The same
is true of documents in audio or electronic formats sent by recognized organisations of the blind to a blind customer.
Severely disabled people are also exempted from paying radio and TV charges on application with the social welfare office. Eligible are disabled people whose degree of disability is 60 points according to the German disability classification system. They are also exempted from paying basic telephone charges.
Other regulations and benefits
In Germany, private and public employers who employ 16 workers or more are required to fill 6 per cent of their workforce with severely disabled people. Employers who fail to meet this quota must pay a levy for each place needed to fill the quota. The money is paid into an "equilisation fund" which is used, amongst others, to finance assistive equipment needed to adapt the workplace.
Additonally, special support and assistance in the workplace is available for blind workers. This includes the adaptation of the workplace to the individual needs of the visually impaired worker, using special assistive technology and providing a reader.
Blind workers are protected through special legislation against unjustified dismissals. Also, they are entitled to five or six extra days of vacation each year.
|
|