Institutions for persons with disabilities The committee stressed the difference between organisations for persons with disabilities and organisations of persons with disabilities. The latter are mainly comprised of persons who are affected themselves as members and leaders. As all persons with disabilities should participate, the organisations must represent all persons with disabilities; that is in particular, women, children, persons with multiple disabilities, persons with learning difficulties or mental impairments and immigrants. Participation in decisionmaking process In order for participation to be able to succeed in a meaningful way, consideration must be given to the needs of the affected persons. Information must be comprehensible and accessible, deadlines for statements of opinion sufficient. It must be possible for persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making processes regardless of the nature of their impairment. The State has the obligation to provide the necessary subsidies and framework in this respect. Securing comprehensive legal and civic rights for all citizens is a fundament of modern democracies and anchored in many contracts under international law. Observations by the NPM indicate that it is not currently certain that, for example, local election and voting documents are equally accessible for all persons with disabilities (simple language, large and highcontrast letters, translation into sign language, braille etc.). In addition, it is not guaranteed that persons with disabilities are invited to contribute in election campaigns or to run for an office etc. It became once again clear in 2019 that in some cases even the care staff questioned whether persons with multiple disabilities are able to organise themselves, form their own opinion and express the same. It is true that the NPM encountered many examples of good practice of how organisations can successfully install participative processes. However, participation in political and social life cannot be realised as long as people think predominantly in terms of human deficits. In the following, the report thus concentrates on the deficits ascertained by the commissions in institutions and facilities that make the right to participation impossible. Possibilities to communicate are basic condition 91 The most basic condition for participation is the ability to communicate. Experiences made by the commissions show, however, that precisely those whose ability to communicate is impaired receive little specific encouragement in particular. One reason for this is that this group is often ascribed only basic competencies. Not much is expected of these persons as a result. The staff assumes that clients are “content” anyway or that they know their clients’ needs. It is thus overlooked that persons with communication impairments can have very different preconditions and have very different needs. Individual care and support is also essential in the prevention of violence. The body’s own communication forms as well as electronic and non-electronic aids shall be used instead of spoken language (see NPM Report 2016, p. 90 et seq.).