Knut Weltlich, Bertelsmann’s Representative for Employees with Severe Disabilities, Participates In European-American Exchange Of Experiences

Knut Weltlich, Bertelsmann’s Representative for Employees with Disabilities, was one of three delegates sent by the European business sector to take part in the first transatlantic exchange of experiences gained with employing people with disabilities. A seven-member delegation from the European Union followed the U.S. government’s invitation to Washington to discuss ways of improving the situation for disabled people in the job market and at the workplace. Knut Weltlich, who was already recognized in an EU Commission report in late 2005 for his innovative, inventive approach to integrating people with disabilities, was able to convince all 80 discussion participants from both sides of the Atlantic with examples from the Bertelsmann world.

No matter how simple the principle behind this technical equipment may be, it was new to the participants at the two-day conference in Washington and became the event’s main attraction: a light-signal system (“Lisa”) for notifying hearing-impaired employees that an email has arrived, a standing wheelchair that enables wheelchair-bound employees to reach the higher shelves in an office, and the shuttle car that allows wheelchair users to drive their wheelchairs right up to the steering wheel through the hatch. “It is by no means an exaggeration when I say that Knut Weltlich was the ‘Star of the Show’,” wrote the Director of the EU Delegation in her thank-you letter to the Brussels Bertelsmann agency. “It was a great pleasure to have met Mr. Weltlich; his presentation was outstanding.”

In Knut Weltlich’s opinion, the possibilities for people with disabilities to succeed on the job are immense. “One need only look around and get informed, as achievement knows no handicap,” says the Bertelsmann’s Disability Officer. Weltlich is dedicated to his role as the representative of colleagues with disabilities. Through his ability to assert himself and to come up with a slew of ideas (he himself contributed to the development of “Lisa” and the standing wheelchair), he has made the lives of several Bertelsmann employees with disabilities much easier.

U.S. representatives in particular showed great interest in his 50-minute presentation, which outlined far more than just the various ways of arranging disability-friendly work areas as already put into practice at Bertelsmann. He also gave a recap of the many PR events hosted by Bertelsmann in 2003, the European Year of People with Disabilities (EYPD). Bertelsmann used its various media to inform millions of readers and TV viewers about the enormous potential that people with disabilities have for achievement. To underscore his point, Weltlich screened the TV spots and the new image film, which were produced by RTL Creation and broadcast by RTL and Vox. These films introduce Bertelsmann’s various activities for people with disabilities over the past several years.

“We are very grateful to Mr. Weltlich for his immense support during the European Year of People with Disabilities,” Elizabeth Straw continues in her letter. “This exchange of experiences provides a good impetus for us to keep the momentum of the European Year of People with Disabilities going.”