S09 - Session P1 - Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Urban Agriculture of Vienna. The Combined Application of Grounded Theory, Action and Evaluation Research for the Development of a Social-Ecological Model

Authors: Sophie Schaffernicht *, Elisabeth Quendler

The target group of this study - people with disabilities who work and who are cared for in institutions that offer occupational therapy - are largely absent from the discussions about urban agriculture. When implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, education and work are essential aspects, especially for the self-determination of people with disabilities. However, people with disabilities are currently often prevented from truly participating in society. The main focus of this study lies on the barriers to inclusion into horticultural working life. A university, three social institutions with seven employees, two horticultural farms with two farm managers and fifteen people with disabilities took part in a pilot project on urban agriculture and inclusion in Vienna. During the tomato harvest, action research was applied, evaluated and modified. At the same time, the authors tried to contribute to Grounded Theory. Offers in the field of urban agriculture should go beyond pure cooperation between social institutions and horticultural farms. A socio-ecological scenario with agro-ecological inclusion farms is suggested. The establishment of such farms in terms of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in Vienna could bring the city closer to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.