Matthias Klei - Taking the World on Wheels

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About me

My name is Matthias Klei and I was born in East Westphalia-Lippe in 1970. I have been physically disabled since birth and am confined to a wheelchair. I would like to give you a little insight into what it means to me to lead a self-determined life. This plays a major role not only in my private life, but also in my professional life, where I have faced challenges that I have had to overcome.

Professional career

After graduating from school, I was deemed unqualified for the primary labor market, and at first it seemed that my options would be limited to working in a workshop for people with disabilities. However, my internships there showed me that I wanted something different for my life, so after many years of school, a vocational introduction year, and business school, I seized the opportunity to train as an office clerk with additional qualifications in teleworking. What is summarized here in relative brevity cost me—and my parents at the time—a lot of nerves and persuasion. In the end, however, I was able to complete my vocational training as an office clerk and gain a foothold in the primary labor market. I started out at the Alt und Jung e. V. association and began working as an office clerk in 1998. Upon completing my trainer's exam, I was the first physically disabled person to take a training aptitude test at the East Westphalia Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Bielefeld.

Overcoming this hurdle enabled me to work as a trainer at Alt und Jung Süd-West e.V. and show other people with disabilities how to enter the world of work. This allowed me to immerse myself fully in working life. At Alt und Jung, I have been involved in many processes and taken on a wide range of tasks, from the introduction of computer-based payroll accounting, to participating in the development of individual housing projects and establishing the area of individual care for severely disabled people in accordance with SGB IX (“ISB”), to working at management level. In addition, I held a position on the board of the Alt und Jung Nord-Ost e. V. association between December 2007 and February 2012.

From October 2019 to December 2024, I worked at isb Ambulante Dienste gGmbH (Wuppertal). This expanded not only my field of activity, but also my place of work. There, I worked as an operations manager and also as a marketing and public relations employee. In the context of public relations in particular, I set myself the goal of further focusing attention on the ISB sector through additional seminars and consultations, especially for people with disabilities. This is because, both now and then, I have a particular interest in the ISB sector. In this regard, I give specialist lectures throughout Germany and run practical seminars on the topic of “What demands do people with disabilities place on their caregivers and how can these be effectively met?” (Seminars – A win-win situation for both sides)

However, the transition from the end of my training to my first job was not as straightforward as it might seem now. Despite sending out numerous applications after completing my training and returning to my parents' house, it was only a special circumstance that helped me gain a foothold in the primary labor market.

Job satisfaction through finding a place to live

As I had already been living away from home during my training, my biggest wish, apart from finding a job, was to move into my own apartment. However, I didn't yet know exactly how to put my plans into action and, above all, how to finance them. My need for assistance presented a particular challenge for me.

Finally, I got a tip to arrange a consultation on housing matters with the Alt und Jung e. V. association in Bielefeld. In preparation for this, I filled out a questionnaire over the phone, in which I mentioned in a side note that I was an office clerk looking for work. A few days later, I received a call inviting me to a consultation. They already hinted at the possibility of a job offer for me. When I finally sat down for the consultation about the housing situation, I quickly realized that it wasn't a consultation, but rather a job interview for a commercial position at the association. We agreed on a four-month internship where I could set my own priorities.

After the internship, which went very well and I enjoyed very much, I received a very pleasant gift on my 28th birthday and was able to sign my first permanent employment contract. With my career in mind, I put my plans to move on hold for the time being. However, through my professional activities at the association, I was able to gain a lot of experience and, above all, learn about the legal background. Armed with this new information, I set out four years later to find a new apartment in Bielefeld. Since then, I have been living in my own four walls and am supported around the clock by my team (nixistunmoeglich) of employees. (Living with assistance)

Current career

The new year 2025 will also mark the start of a new challenge for me with my third job. On January 1, 2025, I will start working for Pflegeteam 4you (Bielefeld). And in a dual role, no less. In my role as marketing and public relations employee, I will be working in familiar territory and can put my expertise to good use. But in my role as travel coordinator for people with disabilities, I will be taking on a completely new task that is also very close to my heart. After all, traveling is not exactly made easier by a disability, so I want to create opportunities to break down barriers. In addition to financing and finding suitable assistants, choosing a suitable vacation destination is a challenge for many people. I am looking forward to my new tasks! Through my professional and personal experiences, I have learned that

there are no problems, only solutions!

With a positive attitude, healthy self-confidence, and the necessary assertiveness, I have been able to achieve a lot with the support I have received and on the basis of my vocational training and professional experience, which no one would have thought possible a while ago. But that's not the end of the story, because I like to set and push my own boundaries. This can be seen in my personal projects – very much in line with the famous song by Phil Collins: “On my way”.

Of course, it took a lot of perseverance to develop this attitude. And because I rely on support due to my disability, you can find out everything about my life with assistance and how my colleagues support me professionally and privately in achieving my goals here (Living with assistance).