Ableism refers to the devaluation and structural discrimination of people with disabilities. Ableism is about how non-disabled people evaluate the lives of people with disabilities, what images and stereotypes they have in their heads when they think of disabled people. But it is also about the barriers that society creates and maintains. People are disabled by society. Some people therefore refer to themselves as “people affected by ableism”, “disabled people” or “people with disabilities”. (Source: https://fightableism.noblogs.org/about/selbstbeschreibung/ )
further information: Ability – Ableismus und Barrieren
We expressly invite people who are affected by barriers to the System Change Camp. We understand barriers as socially created structures that put people at a disadvantage due to certain physical, cognitive, psychological or other characteristics. Barriers are an expression of social power relations. We see breaking down these structures as part of our political practice, which is why we try to make our camp as barrier-free as possible. We see this path to inclusion as a process in which we can and must still learn a lot. When planning the camp, we try to take possible limitations into account, and we look forward to your feedback for a joint learning process! Please get in touch with us if you have any needs, questions or comments or need support on site. You can reach the discrimination and barrier-free camp working group via the following e-mail: campfueralle@system-change-camp.org
Information on what we want to implement to enable people affected by ableism to participate in the camp with as few barriers as possible will follow here in the coming weeks.
Barriers and accessibility – what you can expect
We try to make the System Change Camp as barrier-free as possible, but this year we failed to fulfil our own expectations: even things that we see as “must haves” could not be met. We apologise for this! For feedback, questions and criticism, you can reach us at campfueralle@system-change-camp.org or at the camp by phone at [number to follow]. We want to keep learning to get closer to our goal of an inclusive system change camp.
To help you make an informed decision about whether or not you can attend the camp, we have put together a list that we will update regularly. Here you can see which measures we are taking to remove barriers, which measures are still uncertain (so it is better not to rely on them) and the barriers that still exist:
Status: 12/07/2024
Measures to reduce barriers
Assistance mediation for support on the camp, see Assistance mediation
Disability Safer Space, laid out with floor panels
Shuttle with or without ramp from Erfurt railway station to the camp, see Shuttle
Cots to lie on in the workshop tents
Low-barrier shower cubicle and toilets
Rest tent for relaxation
Some (natural) shaded areas on the camp
Charging facilities for electric wheelchairs
Provision of (action) wheelchairs
Signposting of the tents in German/English and with pictograms
Glossary System Change Camp with explanations of some scene abbreviations and complicated words (digital and paper form)
Barrier-free sleeping tent with camp beds, laid out with floor panels
Car park near the camp
Information about ingredients in the kitchen
Information on prior knowledge (not) required for workshops
Plastic straws at the kiosk
Assistance dogs are welcome at the camp
Low-barrier tent area near the workshop tents
Unsafe measures for barrier removal
Probably no paving slabs for paths
probably no online participation in workshops etc. possible (no livestreams)
probably no interpretation of workshops in sign language
unclear whether there are accessible rooms in the bed exchange
Fridge for medication
Barriers at the System Change Camp
Barriers at the System Change Camp
for a description of the site and travel options see: Arrival and Camp location
No labelling with Braille
No floor guidance systems
The vast majority of tents are not equipped with floor plates
Signposts with unclear lettering and little contrast
Generally lots of noises and odours at the camp
little to no sofas and armchairs on the camp, beer tent sets as the main seating
no ventilation systems or fans in the tents (can get hot)
many tent cords all over the camp, some not clearly visible
Support for self-determination – doing inclusion together!
Why there is support for self-determination
In order to enable as many people as possible to take part in the System Change Camp, we are setting up a self-determination support programme this year. This means that we are bringing people who need support in everyday camp life together with people who can provide this support. For example, a person who can see well can help a blind person to find a particular workshop tent and then to the Küfa.
All people are dependent on others in one way or another throughout their lives (whether emotionally, for learning, physically, etc.). However, people with disabilities are far too often excluded from participation, e.g. in climate camps, due to barriers and hostility towards people with disabilities. We therefore see it as a joint task for all camp participants to look after each other and make inclusion possible.
How self-determination support works – how to contact us
If you would like to make use of the self-determination support, you can contact us by phone between 08:00-24:00 (also at night in an emergency) at 015212537689. We will then meet you near the Infopoint and arrange for someone who can provide assistance or would like to be a buddy. You can then make arrangements together about what is needed to enable you to take part in the camp. You have the right to receive support from someone you feel comfortable with. If this is not the case, please give us a call and we will try to connect you with someone else. This is completely human and normal.
What self-determination support can do
Self-determination support works on two levels, although the transition can be fluid:
- assistance placement in shifts
If you need specific support in everyday camp life, we can provide you with an assistant. For example, an assistant could help you get out of the tent in the morning, pick up food from the kitchen together with you or bring a camp bed to the circus tent so that you can get some rest.
- buddy system
If you need a longer-term carer at the camp, we can put you in touch with a buddy. Depending on your needs, you can then, for example, spend 1-2 days together at the camp and/or be available for each other. A buddy could work with you to plan which workshops you would like to attend, help you take your regular medication or go for a walk with you if you are feeling overwhelmed or lonely.
What self-determination support cannot do
Self-determination support is provided by the camp participants and cannot rely on professional carers, social workers, psychologists etc.. Therefore, we cannot provide ‘higher-threshold’ support (e.g. transfer from wheelchair to bed, therapeutic conversations or assistance with showering), or only to a very limited extent. If you need such support services and cannot manage with your own carer, please contact us in advance by email and we will try to find a solution together.
How you can support
If you would like to join us in realising inclusion at the System Change Camp, you can take on a 6-hour assistant shift or become a buddy for a longer period (e.g. 1-2 days). You can either register in advance at campfueralle@system-change-camp.org or at the camp on our number 015212537689 or simply at the info point. We will then meet with you and give you a short briefing.
Your task is to promote the self-determination of the person who needs your support. To do this, you should be empathetic to their needs, not prioritise your own opinion and reliably adhere to your agreements. You can also turn to us or other assistants at any time if you have difficulties or are exhausted – inclusion is teamwork.
Let’s overcome the barriers in people’s minds and at the camp together!
Bed exchange
We would like to organise sleeping places at this year’s System Change Camp in Erfurt in a spirit of solidarity. Not all people have the possibility to organise a place to sleep themselves or to bring a tent. We are therefore asking all people who are able to do so to take any remaining tents with them and lend them out on site. The contact point for this is our information tent.
At the same time, we are still looking for places to sleep in and around Erfurt to accommodate speakers and people who would otherwise not be able to attend the camp. If you have a free room in your flat, shared flat, house project etc. during the period or part of it, please contact Bettenboerse@system-change-camp.org. If you can, please write directly where and how much space you have, whether you have animals, how accessible it is and in which period you have space. Thank you very much!
If you need a place to sleep via the bed exchange, please write an email with your needs and requirements to Bettenboerse@system-change-camp.org or call 017614518604.
Allergy kitchen
For left-wing and anarchist struggles without stomach cramps, gluten-free, low-inflammatory, low-histamine and coeliac-friendly food will also be cooked in an extra kitchen at the System Change Camp this year. If you have other very complex allergies/intolerances, please contact us via the AG barrier-free camp: campfueralle@system-change-camp.org and we will pass it on to the Küfa and see what is possible. For all less complex allergies, e.g. I don’t eat garlic or hazelnuts, this is taken care of in the large kitchen, you can then register this directly in the large kitchen at the camp.
If you would like to support the allergy kitchen on several days, please write to juu_fu.53 or nui.23 on Signal or come directly to the gluten-free kitchen on Sunday/Monday. We are happy about cooks 🥄 and support.
No munchies, no fight – for everyone ❤️🔥
Travelling in solidarity without money
We know from the experience of recent years that not everyone can afford to travel to the System Change Camp and that some of you are therefore considering staying at home for financial reasons. When capitalism distributes wealth so unfairly, we need to build solidarity networks to take everyone with us!
We would therefore like to encourage you to think along with people within your cities who have little money and to organise solidary journeys. You can offer people a lift if you are travelling by car, or take someone on your group train ticket who would otherwise not come to the camp.
If there is no solidarity transport in your city or town and you cannot afford the journey to the System Change Camp, please write to us at campfueralle@system-change-camp.org and we will try to find a solution together. If necessary, we can also support you financially. However, we also have limited resources and must reserve the right to withdraw this offer at a certain point.