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Action Day for people with disabilities 2025 in Leipzig sponsored by Aktion Mensch

Action Day for people with disabilities 2025 in Leipzig

Awareness-support and panel contribution on participation, self-advocacy, and inclusion

On 5 May 2025, reflect.awareness e.V. accompanied the Action Day for People with Disabilities sponsored by Aktion Mensch in Leipzig. The event was part of a public protest and networking initiative, where people with disabilities, self-advocates, initiatives, and supporters came together to demand genuine participation, accessibility, and structural change.

The Action Day was deliberately designed not as a symbolic event but as a political space where demands could be made visible, experiences shared, and responsibilities named. In this context, we contributed both through a panel discussion and by providing awareness support throughout the event.

Panel discussion: Perspectives from practice, self-Advocacy, and politics
A central element of the Action Day was a public discussion on the necessary changes for an inclusive urban society. Speakers on the panel included:

  • Dr. Luchnikova, Disability Commissioner of the City of Leipzig
  • Sahra Lenz, Peer Consultant
  • Sophia Poulakis, representing the Inclusive Neighborhood Center Lindenau
  • Issaias Weikum, reflect.awareness e.V.

The discussion focused on why participation is still not taken for granted, which structural barriers exist, and what is needed to ensure that people with disabilities are not just considered but genuinely involved. Issaias Weikum brought in the perspective of awareness and prevention work, emphasizing that meaningful participation is impossible without discrimination-sensitive structures, critical awareness of power, and accountability.

Our role: Awareness team and political positioning

In addition to the panel contribution, reflect.awareness e.V. provided an awareness team to accompany the entire event. Awareness work is particularly important at protest and political events, where personal experiences, frustration, hope, and emotions intersect.

Our awareness-team was visible, approachable, and present, supporting participants in situations of overwhelm, conflict, uncertainty, or discrimination. Awareness here primarily meant listening, taking experiences seriously, protecting, and acting in solidarity.

Principles: Self-advocacy, power of definition and responsibility

Our work at the Action Day was grounded in an anti-sexist, anti-discriminatory, and power-critical stance. Key principles were the power of definition and partiality: people with disabilities are the experts of their own lives, and their perspectives are the starting point for any discussion on participation.

We understand awareness not as a neutral service, but as a clear positioning alongside those affected. Particularly in the context of protest and political engagement, it is essential to create safe spaces without diluting political content or delegitimizing conflicts.

Impact and significance
The Action Day for People with Disabilities in Leipzig demonstrated how closely awareness work, political education, and self-advocacy are connected. By combining public protest, a substantive panel discussion, and on-site awareness support, a space was created where demands were made visible and participation could be experienced in practice.

Our involvement shows that awareness is not only relevant at festivals but also a key instrument for inclusive political practice.

We thank Aktion Mensch, all participating self-advocates, and initiatives for their collaboration and shared commitment to genuine participation.