Fight for kindergarten places: Vienna is threatened with an emergency for children with disabilities!

Fight for kindergarten places: Vienna is threatened with an emergency for children with disabilities!

In Vienna, parents face an overwhelming challenge. There are currently 1,512 children with disabilities waiting for a kindergarten place here, and this number is skyrocketing - in autumn 2023 there were still around 860. Vice Mayor and City Councilor for Education Bettina Emmerling (Neos) presented these alarming figures in an answer to a request from the Vienna Greens. Valerie Schmeiser, the mother of little Emil with Down syndrome, is particularly affected and describes her long and rocky path to daycare.

Valerie Schmeiser's fight for a place in kindergarten began in autumn 2022. At that time, Emil was over a year old. When registering, the family stated that he needed support, which resulted in a psychological evaluation. But the result was devastating: There are no inclusion places in urban small children's groups. The family was advised to look for a private kindergarten instead. What could be a forward-looking decision also means immense financial burdens for the Schmeisers, who have to make advance payments because the costs for Emil's support are in the three-digit range.

The long road to inclusion

Valerie even gave up her job to look after Emil, which is a further burden. Nevertheless, support from the AMS fell short of expectations. Emil, who has been on waiting lists for support associations since his pregnancy, finally received a place in a private kindergarten in autumn 2023. But it soon became clear that this space would no longer exist from March 2025. Uncertainty remains high as to whether Emil will find a suitable place that meets his needs again.

A ray of hope comes from the fact that Emil is currently in a private kindergarten that receives financial support for the care of children with disabilities. A special education teacher provides monthly support for this purpose. In this context, Valerie Schmeiser is urgently calling for higher salaries and better working conditions for specialists in elementary education from politicians. Because without committed employees, inclusion cannot work.

The importance of inclusion

The possibility that children with disabilities can participate equally in the education system is guaranteed by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This convention, which has been in force in Germany since 2009, stipulates that education must be accessible to everyone, regardless of disabilities or special needs. While the theory sounds nice, in practice there is often a lack of the necessary resources and professional support. Access to regular school should be a given for all children, but many face major hurdles.

The decision whether a child should attend a special school or learn in an inclusive environment depends largely on individual needs. Positive experiences show that learning together not only benefits children with disabilities; Your classmates also benefit and learn to respect each other. Informed teachers and school support are essential for the success of an inclusive education system.

It turns out that the change towards an inclusive society is not easy and requires a lot of commitment. Valerie Schmeiser and her husband responded and founded the “Care Club” practice group to offer support to other parents and their children with disabilities. On her Instagram profile @emilunddasblauehaus, Valerie shares insights into her everyday life and the challenges she encounters.

In summary, it can be said that learning together is crucial for the social belonging of all children. Education should not exclude anyone, no matter what challenges they face. Vienna's city politics and society are called upon to pave appropriate paths for a better future.

Further details on the training situation in the inclusive education system can be found in the reports from MyDistrict, DS Info Center and bpb.