Representing the Unrepresented? Examining Disability Representation in the German Parliament

How are people with disabilities represented in the German Parliament? This article explores this question, addressing both the representation of substantive interests and the presence of representatives with a disability by analysing roll call votes on disability-related bills and 76,299 parliamentary speech acts from 2013 to 2021. We employ natural language processing techniques to analyse disability representation within the German parliament. The findings reveal limited openness about disabilities among MPs, with representation primarily falling on dedicated disability advocates or those prioritising equality and disability issues. Left-leaning parties are more likely to discuss disability in their speeches, but this effect appears tied to their higher female representation. This study uncovers a deficit in the descriptive representation of people with disabilities. It underscores the role of disability advocates and women in the representation of substantive interests, calling for further investigation into policy spokespersons’ roles and the impact of gender.