In 1969, Theo Lorch, who was head of Karlshöhe in Ludwigsburg at the time, founded the Theo Lorch Workshops as the "Werkstatt für behinderte Menschen e.V." association to create jobs for people with disabilities in Ludwigsburg. After 50 years, this has grown into a company with four locations in the district, employing almost 1,100 people with and without disabilities.
As highlights in the 50-year history of Theo-Lorch-Werkstätten, Pfrommer cited the move into the new building of the workshop for the disabled in Ludwigsburg in 1971, the opening of the workshop for the disabled in Bietigheim-Bissingen in 1980, the opening of a branch workshop in Ludwigsburg for people with mental disabilities in 1982, the move into the new building of the workshop for the disabled in Ludwigsburg with central administration and a support and care area in 1996, the formation of the first external work group in 2001, the introduction of the service offerings "The Painting Workshop" in 2008 and "The Garden Workshop" in 2011, the inauguration of the new support and care area and the painting workshop at the Ludwigsburg site in 2010, the inauguration of the new Bottwartal branch workshop in Großbottwar and accreditation as an educational institution in 2012, as well as the inauguration of the Bottwartal support and care area in 2015.
"Since the district took over responsibility for integration assistance in 2005, there has been an ongoing dialog with the Theo Lorch workshops," Pfrommer noted. He continued: "Around 700 people from the district of Ludwigsburg are currently employed at the workshops - the district is the payer in these cases. We therefore work together to monitor developments and formulate requirements. In our cooperation, we find Theo-Lorch-Werkstätten to be a reliable and open-minded partner that is committed to a good partnership between the providers and with the district for the further development of integration assistance," continued Pfrommer.
The upcoming implementation of the Federal Participation Act (BTHG) requires a system change in integration assistance. Pfrommer said that the needs of people with disabilities and their wishes and opportunities would become even more central. "In order to meet the BTHG and its requirements, a future topic of cooperation will be an even greater variety of employment opportunities and daily structures." This includes, for example, the further alignment of the offer to fields of activity, the flexibilization of working hours or the increased placement of people with disabilities in the primary labour market.
Head of Social Affairs Pfrommer thanked Managing Director Stefan Wegner and all employees of Theo-Lorch-Werkstätten for "your tireless commitment to people with disabilities in the district of Ludwigsburg" and for "the good and constructive cooperation" and wished them "as much energy, commitment and courage to break new ground for the next 50 years when it comes to good jobs for people who are 'normally different', as the memorable motto of Theo-Lorch-Werkstätten says."
