Inclusive Climbing for people with and without disabilities

Since 2008, we at “Ich will da rauf!” e.V. have regularly offered supervised climbing groups for people with and without disabilities. Our vision is inclusion! In the groups, participants experience the joy of climbing together, meet at eye level and overcome barriers. Not only on the climbing wall but also in their minds. There are now 14 climbing groups (children's groups, adult and youth groups, family climbing group) in which half of the members are disabled and half are not. Our members are between 6 and 82 years old. The disabilities are very diverse: people with physical disabilities, chronic illnesses and cognitive impairments climb at IWDR. Some have epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, autism, trisomy 21 or muscular dystrophy, for example. And they all show: Anyone can climb! The groups are each supervised by a professional and supported by a volunteer. IWDR employs 15 freelance supervisors, 21 volunteers and three full-time employees. The Board of Directors also works on a voluntary basis.

Our aim is to empower people with disabilities for everyday life. We want to make people without disabilities aware of and sensitize them to the everyday challenges that a disability sometimes entails. We bring together people who would otherwise never meet. Climbing is a wonderfully inclusive sport because you can climb together in a rope team and support each other, even if you are on very different levels of difficulty. In this way, climbing offers a wide range of opportunities to experience how it is possible to act and learn together despite and precisely because of differences - be they physical, mental or character-related. Climbing also challenges and promotes coordination, fitness, social and mental skills. Climbing uses large muscle groups (core muscles) as well as muscle groups that are often neglected (foot and hand muscles). In addition to coordination skills, it also addresses spatial orientation, balance, action planning and self-control, as well as courage, willpower and mental stamina. And anyone who has ever conquered a climbing wall knows: in addition to self-confidence and empowerment, climbing is also a lot of fun! And we want to make this possible for EVERYONE.

Donations are used exclusively to fund our climbing groups. So that people with and without disabilities can climb with us, we have to train and, of course, pay trainers, pay for admission to the climbing hall and purchase equipment. We need your donation for this! In order for the project to be sustainable, we also need long-term and stable partnerships. We therefore welcome companies who would like to support us with a company membership or donations and thus make a contribution to a more inclusive society.