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

Sweden

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

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

General policy

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

The government has given ten millions SEK for information campaigns in order to convey the message of full participation. The Government states having taken the following actions in order to convey the message of full participation: translated the Rules in Swedish; entrusted the Disability Ombudsman to disseminate and promote the Rules in Sweden; and made the Rules available in Braille, cassette tapes and published them in an easy-to-read form.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by general legislation. According to the Government, the rights of disabled persons are protected both by general and special legislation. There are no judicial mechanisms to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Administrative and other non-judicial bodies include: an Ombudsman and various specialized bodies in for instance employment, the provision of technical aids and EU matters. According to the Government, the judicial mechanism available to protect the rights of disabled people is due process (legal remedy through courts). The non-judicial bodies include an Ombudsman, a governmental body (administrative) and national/regional supervision. The Government, however, does not refer to other specialized bodies.

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

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted, since the adoption of the Standard Rules. The Government refers to several laws enacted since the adoption of the Rules: The Act concerning Support and Service for Persons with certain Functional Impairment and the Assistance Benefit Act, the Act concerning the Disability Ombudsman, the Act concerning Pilot Project with Parental Influence 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 public places (schools, hospitals, clinics etc.) are made accessible. According to the Government, there are laws to ensure accessibility even in the outdoor environment as well as means of transportation and housing. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by local governments and by the constructor. Accessibility is also observed by a national authority, as the Government states. The following measures have been promoted by the government to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: financial incentives/support for accessibility measures in housing and the installation of tele-loops for hearing impaired. According to the Government, even the following measures have been promoted in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas, installing automatic doors, lifts and accessible toilets, ensuring access to public places, improving accessibility in housing, installing special lighting and using contrast colours for visually impaired, and providing specially adapted motor vehicles. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, technical factors and lack of knowledge, research and information. According to the Government, the foremost obstacle is economic/budgetary factors. There is a disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language for deaf people is recognized as the official language of deaf people, is also used as the first language in education of deaf people and is recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. The following services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: sign language interpretation being available for any purpose, other services provided except those enumerated in the questionnaire are: relay services, interpretation for deafened adults and subtitling TV.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization of organizations of persons with disabilities. There are legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making and to work with governmental institutions. Disability organizations are always consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at both the national, regional and local levels. The role of disability organizations is to: mobilize persons with disabilities, identify needs and priorities, participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services and measures, contribute to public awareness and promote/organize income generating activities. According to the Government organizations also advocate rights and improved services and they provide services.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Health. According to the Government, there is no national co-ordinating committee in Sweden. The committee includes representatives of the Ministries of: Health and Social Affairs, Employment, Transport, Education and Culture. The committee does not include representatives from organizations of persons with disabilities, from other NGO's, or from the private sector. The government expects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development.

The organization hopes that the adoption of the Standard Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.

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