Ceremonial inauguration of the workstations. © Röhm

For Gerhard Glanz, on the other hand, inclusion is a personally important issue. As of May 1, 2019, Röhm employs 54 people with disabilities at the Sontheim, St. Georgen and Dillingen sites (not including this new project). This corresponds to a ratio of 5.4% of the current 994 employees in Germany. The clamping and gripping technology specialist employs around 1300 people worldwide. In addition to Lebenshilfe Giengen, Röhm also works with Lebenshilfe in Asbach-Bäumenheim, Nördlingen, Dillingen and Augsburg. If the cooperation with all Lebenshilfe organizations is added to the current rate of 5.4%, the employment rate for people with disabilities is over 10%.

Closer cooperation

The Lebenshilfe workshops in Heidenheim and Giengen and the Röhm company have been in contact for a long time. One of the most recent campaigns started last year with Röhm trainees. The management provided a budget of 10,000 euros for this. The trainees use this money to implement independently organized projects together with Lebenshilfe Giengen. At the end of 2018, for example, a special learning screen was handed over during an event day to make it easier for people with disabilities to access technology and digital media. Next on the agenda is a trip to the zoo in Esslingen at the end of May 2019. A raised bed and a bench for the outdoor area are planned to be delivered to Lebenshilfe Giengen and installed at the beginning of July 2019. The remainder of the budget will then be handed over as a cash donation.

Facts and figures

In Germany, more than 7.5 million people are considered severely disabled, around 24% of whom are 100% disabled (as of 2015). Between 2005 and 2015, their total number increased by 12.6%. (Source: Behindertenhilfe in Deutschland: Zahlen - Daten - Fakten from the Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege BGW, Hamburg, 07/2017). The figures show that it can happen to anyone and that the likelihood of becoming disabled is not small.

Learning from each other

For Röhm, the commitment is not a means of self-promotion, but rather a convinced action that serves as a role model for other companies both in the region and nationwide. The participants have had excellent experiences so far: Joint projects ensure greater understanding, increasing respect and mutual learning effects at various levels, which would not have occurred without the close cooperation. The southern German clamping and gripping technology specialists are happy to pass on these positive experiences.