(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
The Right and the Krf sacrifice the rights of disabled people to save 49 million. From the turn of the year, the government deprived disabled children and adults of aids that were important both for physical and social activities, for educational purposes or to relieve pain. Among other things, they associated bicycles with auxiliary motor, digital cameras and trampolines, pressure-relieving mattresses and recliners for pain management.
- The tightening goes further than was allowed in the state budget, and is in my opinion contrary to the intentions of the National Insurance Act, says Gunnar Buvik, leader of the Norwegian Handicap Association, on NHF's website.
- Digital cameras are not something everyone can afford to buy either. Many parents of disabled children are forced to work little or nothing because the public assistance system fails, and also has a number of extra expenses that are not covered by the public sector either. Now the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has inflicted on them even more extra expenses for aids that are of great educational, social and health significance, says Buvik.
Digital cameras are a key tool in the teaching of alternative communication where children are unable to speak themselves or have developed language. This applies to children with Down syndrome, among other things. To utilize this tutorial, the child needs both a PC, photo printer, printer ink, photo sheets and so on. Photo printers, inks and paper have never been provided as an aid, it has always been the parents' expense. With the camera, we are talking about a start-up cost of 5-6000 kroner. Then operating (paper and ink) as fixed expenses.
The camera is for the child, it should be sent to kindergarten, to relief homes and socializing homes, it should be used every day to show experiences. This use is therefore due to the disability, and comes in addition to the "ordinary" families need.
The Education Act provides rules for the rights of children and young people in primary and secondary schools. The same law gives the right to special education for disabled children in preschool age. The public sector is responsible for fulfilling the right. This is prevented when teaching materials are deprived of children.
Krf and Right defend cut off from an argument about "utility"; that is, they take from our children to transfer to other groups. In other words, the pile of money is moved between weak parties, so there is always someone who loses. It is the money that is crucial, not the legal education right!
In a time when Norway has never been richer, Krf and the Right cannot afford the necessary education and care for disabled children. God help us in this vision!
Kari Reine, mother of disabled children