When does the conference Paths out of Loneliness take place?

The conference takes place on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Where is the event held?

The venue is Café Amelie Nebenan at Europaplatz 10 in 99091 Erfurt.

What topics are in focus?

The focus is on experiences of loneliness among people with disabilities, particularly those with cognitive impairments, as well as inclusion, participation, and social encounters.

What can participants expect?

Planned activities include two professional inputs, four parallel workshops, the presentation of workshop results, and a concluding panel discussion.

Who is organizing the conference?

The organizers are the University of Erfurt and Erfurt inclusive!, the inclusion management of the city of Erfurt, along with other partners.

Until when is registration possible?

Registration is requested by October 15, 2026, with the inclusion manager of the city of Erfurt.

Paths out of Loneliness: Erfurt creates space for encounter, participation, and new perspectives

Name: Erfurt inclusive: Conference Paths out of Loneliness
Start: 2026-10-30T10:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-30T16:00:00+01:00
Location: Café Amelie Nebenan

Finding paths out of loneliness together

On Friday, October 30, 2026, the conference Paths out of Loneliness in Erfurt addresses the experiences of loneliness among people with disabilities. The focus is particularly on individuals with cognitive impairments and the question of how encounters, participation, and belonging can be strengthened in everyday life.

Science, practice, and urban society in exchange

The event brings together research, practice, administration, volunteer work, and urban society. The conference is organized by the Chair for Inclusive Educational Processes for Cognitive and Complex Disabilities at the University of Erfurt in collaboration with Erfurt inclusive!, the inclusion management of the city of Erfurt, and other partners.

The starting point is the participatory research project EiLeBe, which examines loneliness in the lives of people with cognitive disabilities. The conference makes experiences visible and opens space for professional classification, personal perspectives, and concrete ideas for more community.

Inputs, Workshops, and Panel Discussion

After two professional inputs, participants will delve deeper into the topic in four parallel workshops. These will address the causes, functions, and consequences of loneliness as well as sustainable ways to increase participation and social connectedness. The workshop results will be presented in the afternoon.

The conclusion will be a panel discussion with experts from academia, administration, disability support, and practice. Among the announced guests are Jürgen Dusel, the Federal Government Commissioner for the Concerns of People with Disabilities, as well as other representatives from research and urban society.

An event experience with a practical perspective

In the Café Amelie Nebenan, an open event atmosphere is created for listening, questioning, and networking. The event planning connects understandable professional inputs with participatory exchange. Thus, the conference is aimed at interested individuals from urban society as well as professionals from services and institutions of disability support, volunteers, relatives, and members of the university.

The atmosphere thrives on personal conversations: Loneliness is not only viewed as a societal issue but is understood from various life and work perspectives. This precisely gives rise to impulses for inclusive meeting places and stronger local participation.

Conclusion: Encounter as a path out of loneliness

The conference invites participants to consider loneliness together and develop concrete possibilities for change. Anyone interested in inclusion, health, participation, and social connectedness will experience a professionally grounded and practice-oriented day in Erfurt with room for exchange. Registration with the inclusion manager of the city of Erfurt is requested by October 15, 2026.