gms | German Medical Science

Background: The use of assistive technology is important for persons with disabilities and for their return to work after accidents or physical problems. There is a multitude of technical assistants, which are constantly being further developed through the digital progress of the working world and medical technology, as the example of the "exoskeleton" clearly shows. There are different functions: the technologies can promote the personal abilities of disabled persons; they can promote the adjustment of workplaces.

Aim: Taking into account the current digital developments, the contribution shows what claims persons with disabilities in Germany have to the disability caused adjustment of their workplace. It is possible that the health-insurance has to pay the medical aid (SG Speyer Urt. v. 20.5.2016 – S 19 KR 350/15). It is possible in other cases that the assistants are a benefit for rehabilitation paid by the pension-insurance or accident-insurance, may be it is an employer-financed reasonable adjustment of the workplace (Art 5 Directive 2000/78/EC).

Method: Document study of legal and policy documents, empirical studies and court decisions.

Results/findings: As technical assistance technologies evolve, the transition from health and safety-optimized workplace design to disability caused adjustment becomes more fluid. In the structured German Social System we find complicated issues of accessibility, responsibility, funding and enforcement for technical assistants.

Discussion and conclusions: It shall be openly discussed if there is a trend towards international convergence in the disability caused adjustment of workplaces.