Lebenshilfe Österreich

Lebenshilfe Österreich (LHÖ) is a non-profit umbrella association (Verein) based in Vienna that represents the interests of people with intellectual disabilities and multiple disabilities in Austria. It was founded in July 1967 as the first nationwide interest group for people with intellectual disabilities, emerging from a parents' movement in which parents, teachers and sympathizers established the first provincial Lebenshilfe organisations. Today it is the umbrella body of eight provincial organisations in Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Vienna. The association's mission is to enable people with disabilities to live as independently, self-determinedly and actively as possible and to participate in society on an equal basis. Its work covers social policy and law, public relations, events, social innovation and knowledge management. A distinctive feature is its "trialogue" approach, in which people with intellectual disabilities (self-advocates), relatives and the managing directors of the provincial organisations work together on an equal footing to exchange views, make decisions and develop common positions. Self-advocates serve as experts by experience. According to Wikipedia, the eight member associations support around 11,000 people with disabilities in the housing and work areas, often throughout their lives. Across roughly 500 Lebenshilfe locations in Austria, about 7,000 employees work, supported by 900 volunteers, over 500 civilian service workers and around 200 interns. The organisation is a member of Inclusion Europe and, through it, of Inclusion International. Lebenshilfe Österreich engages in lobbying with politicians and public administration on laws and their application, and works with the Monitoring Committee established by the Ministry of Social Affairs to oversee the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Austria ratified in 2008. It has been actively involved in many legislative projects and campaigns, including the Barrier-Free Act review with WU Vienna, the "chancenreich" alliance of NGOs and companies, the "meinewürde.at" petition for fair medical assessments, and the demand for an inclusive school for all. The organisation has been chaired by Anton Henckel-Donnersmarck since 2022, succeeding Germain Weber (2004–2022).

Lebenshilfe Österreich was founded in July 1967 as the first nationwide interest group for people with intellectual disabilities in Austria. It emerged from a parents' movement: in the 1960s, the situation for people with disabilities in Austria and Europe was very poor, with frequent exclusion from society and few support options. Parents of people with disabilities joined forces to create better living conditions for their children, leading to the first provincial Lebenshilfe organisations. Parents, teachers and sympathizers founded these organisations in the various federal provinces, and in July 1967 the national umbrella, Lebenshilfe Österreich, was established. Study trips at the end of the 1970s brought a new self-understanding. Early intervention and housing, including the special needs of ageing and elderly people, became focal points. Lebenshilfe Österreich was actively involved in many legislative projects. In the early 1990s, the loose interest group was developed into a professionally managed umbrella association. Many fundamental themes emerged that still resonate today: self-determination, self-advocacy, community-based living and strengthening the role of parents. In the 1990s, support followed the needs and wishes of individuals and moved away from group offerings and special models. In education, the demand shifted from the right to school (integration) to the right to a common school for all (inclusion). In 1995, Lebenshilfe Österreich organised the commemorative "Aktion T4" to draw attention to the victims with intellectual disabilities under National Socialism. Self-responsibility and self-determination became the most important criteria. The housing sector was increasingly restructured into small units. In 2005, Lebenshilfe Österreich decided to stop using the term "geistige Behinderung" (intellectual disability). In 2006, together with the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) and important senior citizens' associations, it organised the first joint European conference on "ageing" of "people with disabilities". The Graz Declaration became an important European document. Lebenshilfe prepared the founding of the self-advocacy advisory board and coordinated a joint working group of self-advocates from Caritas, Diakonie, JAW and Lebenshilfe, which later became the Forum Selbstvertretung in the ÖAR. In 2007, Lebenshilfe founded the self-advocacy advisory board at federal level. In 2008, Austria ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and Lebenshilfe actively advocated its implementation. At the 2009 "Wege zur Inklusion" conference in Bregenz, Lebenshilfe was the first organisation in Austria to demand inclusion. Germain Weber chaired the organisation from 2004 to 2022; Anton Henckel-Donnersmarck has been chairperson since 2022. Today, the association bundles information from the provincial associations, develops socio-political positions together with them, and acts as an interest representation for people with intellectual disabilities throughout Austria through its federal office in Vienna. Its tasks include social policy and law, public relations, events, social innovation and knowledge management. It lobbies politicians and public administration on laws and their application, and works with the Monitoring Committee established by the Ministry of Social Affairs to oversee the implementation of the UN Convention. It is a member of Inclusion Europe and, through it, of Inclusion International.

• 2022

  Anton Henckel-Donnersmarck became chairperson.

• 2009

  At the 'Wege zur Inklusion' conference in Bregenz, Lebenshilfe was the first organisation in Austria to demand inclusion.

• 2008

  Austria ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Lebenshilfe actively advocated its implementation.

• 2007

  Founded the self-advocacy advisory board at federal level.

• 2006

  Co-organised the first joint European conference on 'ageing' of 'people with disabilities' with EASPD and senior citizens' associations; the Graz Declaration became an important European document.

• 2005

  Decided to stop using the term 'geistige Behinderung' (intellectual disability).

• 2004

  Germain Weber became chairperson (until 2022).

• 1995

  Organised the commemorative 'Aktion T4' to draw attention to the victims with intellectual disabilities under National Socialism.

• 1990

  In the early 1990s, the loose interest group was developed into a professionally managed umbrella association.

• 1970

  Study trips at the end of the 1970s brought a new self-understanding; early intervention and housing became focal points.

• 1967

  Founding of Lebenshilfe Österreich in July as the first nationwide interest group for people with intellectual disabilities, emerging from a parents' movement.

Non-profit human rights organisation and umbrella association advocating for the rights, self-determination and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in Austria.

1. 1Lebenshilfe Österreich official websitelebenshilfe.at
2. 2Über uns - Lebenshilfelebenshilfe.at
3. 3Lebenshilfe Österreich - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4Lebenshilfe Österreich - Wikidatawikidata.org