The journal "DIAS - Digital Labor and Social Law," relaunched in 2025, examines current developments at the intersection of digitalization, the world of work, and social law. Edited by Prof. Dr. Isabell Hensel of the University of Kassel and Dr. Ernesto Klengel of HSI, DIAS offers in-depth analyses, contributions to the debate, and perspectives from academia and practice—for everyone helping to shape digital labor and social law. Since fall 2025, DIAS has been supported by an academic advisory board, which includes Prof. Dr. Judith Brockmann and Prof. Dr. Gerrit Hornung from the University of Kassel.

The July issue of DIAS 2/2026, with the special focus “Digitalization and Participation of People with Disabilities,” examines how digitalization is intended to foster greater participation by opening up new opportunities in communication, education, and workplace practices. However, if digital systems are not designed to be accessible, new barriers and risks of discrimination may arise. The focus is on the legal foundations of digital accessibility and the infrastructural framework of AI.

The legal article by Hlava/Trienekens, “Legal Foundations of Digital Accessibility in the Use of Social Benefits and in Working Life, ” analyzes the legal foundations of digital accessibility in labor and social law, covering a wide range of topics from the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and EU law to current developments in German law.

The legal article by Busch, “The Legal Framework for the Use of Artificial Intelligence Under the AI Regulation for People with Disabilities, Including Those with Chronic Illnesses, in the Workplace, ” analyzes the intersections of occupational safety, rehabilitation, and participation laws and examines the new requirements of the AI Regulation, which also strengthen the rights of representatives for people with severe disabilities.

The political science article by Klappheck, “Artificial Intelligence and Inclusion: Between Utopia and Dystopia, ” questions whether AI systems actually make the widely touted contribution to greater inclusion. The author calls for a debate on whether AI, as a solution to disability, is inherently ableist and critically examines current proposals to redefine neurodiversity as human capital.

In the “Perspectives” section, practical examples demonstrate how representatives for people with severe disabilities can actively shape digitalization in workplaces; a research project on the “Accessibility by Design” approach is presented; and the planned amendments to the Disability Equality Act are discussed.

The journal is published as open access and is available free of charge at:
http://www.dias-recht.eu

The Hans Böckler Foundation’s newsletter “DIAS aktuell” provides information on current issues.

https://www.boeckler.de/de/70419.htm