Federal Association of Evangelical Disability Assistance

The Bundesverband evangelische Behindertenhilfe e. V. (BeB) — the Federal Association of Evangelical Disability Assistance — is a German umbrella association and specialist body for participation (Fachverband für Teilhabe) within the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung of the Evangelical Church in Germany. It is headquartered in Berlin and serves as the national Protestant voice for services supporting people with disabilities and people with mental illness, as well as their relatives. The BeB was formed in 1998 through the merger of two predecessor associations, the Verband evangelischer Einrichtungen für Menschen mit geistiger und seelischer Behinderung (VEEMB) and the Verband Evangelischer Einrichtungen für die Rehabilitation Behinderter (VEERB), both of which traced their roots back more than a century in Protestant disability work. In 2004 the association moved its office from Stuttgart to Berlin to be closer to federal politics. As a Dachverband (umbrella association), the BeB represents the interests of its member institutions and the people they serve. Its members are legally independent disability assistance and social psychiatry providers within the Diakonie network, along with self-help groups and associations of people with disabilities or mental illness. According to its own information, the BeB unites more than 600 providers and institutions; Wikipedia records 264 member institutions with nearly 400 sub-units employing more than 80,000 people and reaching over 100,000 people with disabilities or mental illness of all ages and degrees of disability. The association issues position papers on the legal situation and disability policy, engages in lobbying in coordination with other major social associations, and organizes events such as the Rheinsberger Kongress (held since 2006) and the mitMenschPreis (awarded since 2010). It publishes two specialist journals, Orientierung (disability assistance) and Kerbe (social psychiatry). Its work is guided by the Christian view of humanity, human rights, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Bundesverband evangelische Behindertenhilfe e. V. (BeB) was founded in 1998 through the merger of two predecessor organizations: the Verband evangelischer Einrichtungen für Menschen mit geistiger und seelischer Behinderung e. V. (VEEMB) and the Verband Evangelischer Einrichtungen für die Rehabilitation Behinderter e. V. (VEERB). Both predecessor associations could look back on more than a hundred years of history in Protestant disability assistance, giving the BeB deep roots in the diaconal tradition. In 2004, the association relocated its office from Stuttgart to Berlin in order to have a shorter line to federal politics. This move underscored the BeB's role as a national advocacy organization operating at the center of German disability policy. Since 2006, the BeB has organized the Rheinsberger Kongress, a congress by and for people with disabilities. The second congress took place from 8 to 11 February 2009 in Rheinsberg under the motto 'Einmischen – Mitmischen – Selbstmachen – Da sind wir wieder!' The fifth congress in 2018 was held under the motto 'Du + Ich = Wir bewegen Politik!' and brought together 230 people with various disabilities to discuss everyday and political topics. The sixth congress in 2025, under the motto 'Einmischen – Mitmischen – Selbstmachen – Wir für Demokratie. Zusammenleben. Zusammenhalten.', discussed the future of workshops for people with disabilities, the effects and potentials of AI, and democratic participation of people with disabilities in theory and practice. In 2010, the BeB established the mitMenschPreis, awarded every two years to innovative and inclusive projects and initiatives in disability assistance and social psychiatry that enable people with high support needs to achieve more self-determined participation. In 2023, a creative competition was added, organized together with the Fürst Donnersmarck-Stiftung (FDST), recognizing creative projects that make the diversity of people with disabilities or mental illness visible. The BeB has also run campaigns such as #OhneFachkräfteKeineTeilhabe and #AktionswocheHEP to highlight the indispensable role of skilled workers in integration assistance and social psychiatry and to draw attention to the growing shortage of personnel in these fields. In 2010, the association's journal Orientierung came under criticism through an open letter from Diakonie employees, supported by the Gemeindehilfsbund and the Kirchliche Sammlung um Bibel und Bekenntnis in Bayern (KSBB), alleging that a campaign ongoing since 2003, particularly in issues 02/2003 and 02/2009, promoted prostitution as a 'sacred act on behalf of the goddess' and as a 'Christian' profession. Leadership of the BeB has changed over time. Frank Stefan, pastor and chairman of the board of Diakonie Kork, served as chairman from 2020. In September 2026, the BeB general assembly elected Dr. Christian Geyer as the new chairman, and Nadja Abuchater-Bier and Tina Mäueler-Görke were elected deputy chairs. Today the BeB is a Fachverband für Teilhabe within the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung of the Evangelical Church in Germany, headquartered in Berlin. It unites over 600 providers and institutions according to its own information, while Wikipedia records 264 member institutions with nearly 400 sub-units, employing more than 80,000 people and reaching over 100,000 people with disabilities or mental illness.

• 2026

  Dr. Christian Geyer elected chairman; Nadja Abuchater-Bier and Tina Mäueler-Görke elected deputy chairs.

• 2025

  Sixth Rheinsberger Kongress held under the motto 'Einmischen – Mitmischen – Selbstmachen – Wir für Demokratie. Zusammenleben. Zusammenhalten.'

• 2023

  Creative competition added to mitMenschPreis, organized with Fürst Donnersmarck-Stiftung.

• 2020

  Frank Stefan becomes chairman of the BeB.

• 2018

  Fifth Rheinsberger Kongress held under the motto 'Du + Ich = Wir bewegen Politik!' with 230 participants.

• 2010

  mitMenschPreis established, awarded every two years.

• 2009

  Second Rheinsberger Kongress held 8–11 February in Rheinsberg.

• 2006

  First Rheinsberger Kongress held.

• 2004

  Office relocated from Stuttgart to Berlin.

• 1998

  BeB founded through the merger of VEEMB and VEERB.

Protestant specialist association and umbrella body for participation, disability assistance, and social psychiatry in Germany, rooted in Christian values and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

• Orientierung

  Specialist journal in the field of disability assistance, published four times a year with a circulation of 5,500 copies.

• Kerbe

  Specialist journal in the field of social psychiatry, published nationwide since 1983, four times a year.

• BeB Info

  Information publication, issue 83 released in June 2026.

• #OhneFachkräfteKeineTeilhabe
• #AktionswocheHEP
• Nicht am Menschen sparen

1. 1BeB e.V. | BeB e.V.beb-ev.de
2. 2Über uns | BeB e.V.beb-ev.de
3. 3Bundesverband Evangelische Behindertenhilfewikidata.org
4. 4Bundesverband evangelische Behindertenhilfede.wikipedia.org