Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
Disabled Peoples' International - DPI

Sweden

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Neurologiskt Handikappades Riksf-rbund (NHR), Sweden
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Swedish Government, DPI (Handikappförbundens Samarbetsorgan), DPI (Hörselskadades Riksförbund), DPI (Riksförbundet för Mag- och Tarmsjuka), ILSMH, WBU, WFD

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in guidelines adopted by the government, in policy adopted by political parties and in policy adopted by NGO's. According to the Government, disability policy is also expressed in law. The emphasis in this national policy - in descending scale - is on anti-discrimination law, rehabilitation, prevention, accessibility measures and individual support. According to the Government, anti-discrimination law is given less emphasis than the NGO is indicating.

According to the organization, the government has not done anything since the adoption of the Standard Rules, conveying the message of full participation. According to the Government, since the adoption of the Rules, the following measures have been taken: translating the Rules in Swedish; entrusting the Disability Ombudsman with the task of disseminating and promoting the Rules in Sweden; and making the Rules available in Braille, cassette tapes and in an easy-to-read form.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by a combination of special legislation and general legislation. The judicial mechanism available to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through courts). The non-judicial mechanism for that purpose is an Ombudsman. According to the Government, non-judicial mechanisms also include a governmental body (administrative) and national/regional supervision.

The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, financial security, independent living and participation in decisions affecting themselves. According to the Government, even the benefit of employment is guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities.

Since the adoption of the Standard Rules, two laws have been enacted: LSS, LASS. According to the Government, the following acts have elaso been enacted: the Act concerning the Disability Ombudsman, the Act concerning Pilot Project with Parental Influence on School Attendance of Children with Mental Retardation, and an amendment in the Act concerning Suitable Public Transport to Persons with Disabilities.

Accessibility

There are laws and regulations to ensure accessibility of the built environment which establish national design standards requiring that housing is made accessible. According to the Government, there are rules requiring that public places, the outdoor environment and means of transportation are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by local governments and by the constructor. According to the Government, accessibility in the built environment is also observed by a national authority. The following measures have been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas, installing lifts and accessible toilets, ensuring access to public places, improving accessibility in housing, giving financial incentives/support for accessibility measures in housing, using contrast colours for visually impaired, and providing specially adapted motor vehicles. Special transport system is available for: education, work and for recreational purpose. According to the Government, special transport is also available for medical treatment. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, geographical and climatic factors, lack of planning and design-capacity and lack of enforcement mechanism. The obstacles mentioned by the Government for building accessible environments are economic/budgetary factors and lack of knowledge. There is a disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

There are government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible for persons with disabilities. The following services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: literature in Braille/tape, news magazines on tape/Braille, sign language interpretation being available for any purpose and easy readers for persons with mental disabilities.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organization. There are no legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making or to work with governmental institutions. According to the Government, there are such legal provisions. Disability organizations are often consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at both the national, regional and local levels. The government financially supports existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judiciary system, to some extent in political parties and to a great extent in NGO's. The role of disabled persons organizations is to advocate rights and improved services, mobilize persons with disabilities, identify needs and priorities, participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services and measures, contribute to public awareness and provide services. According to the Government, organizations also promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

There is no national co-ordinating committee or any similar body in Sweden.

The adoption of the Standard Rules has so far not led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy. According to the Government, although the Rules are expressing views close to its disability policy, they are important and appropriate instrument for developing policy in this field.

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Contents of the DPI Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Swedish Government, DPI (Handikappförbundens Samarbetsorgan), DPI (Hörselskadades Riksförbund), DPI (Riksförbundet för Mag- och Tarmsjuka), ILSMH, WBU, WFD