Deaf in Sweden

Social services

To be able to communicate, to make yourself understood and understand, is of vital importance for a person´s possibilities to partake of society´s offer of health care and social services.

Signed direct communication important

For the deaf there exist only in a few places in the country signing preschools and daycare centres, psychiatric non-institutional care , psychiatric care for children and youths, social consultants(advisers)/social workers, home help service, guiding service for those with impaired vision and resource centres for deaf persons with a mental impairment. In most places there is a lack of group homes for deaf persons with a mental impairment.

There is no special family guidance counselling service for the deaf. Rehabilitation homes and habilitation homes for deaf people in need of support and care do not exist today and there is a lack of rehabilitation efforts especially adapted to deaf drug addicts. Within the home help service there is a major shortage of signing staff. Emergency groups for deaf people are non-existant, etc.

Help and support

For deaf people who are dependent on help and support in their daily life and for those who have mental or social problems, it is not satisfactory to have to resort to a sign language interpreter in the contacts with society´s offer of health care and social services. Sign language is the mother tongue - first language - of the deaf. Deaf persons have the right to direct contact in their own language - sign language.

Within every county council there should be a signing social adviser/social worker. Every municipality should have access to contact persons who are fluent in sign language.

Research must be given priority

Research concerning the situation of the deaf within the health care and social services areas must be given priority and increased resources. There is a major shortage of documented knowledge of deaf people´s health, social situation and working situation. Education and information in co-operation with different educational institutes are other important issues. Knowledge about deafness and the importance of sign language must be spread to all educations aiming at a profession where you have contact with deaf people.

Lack of knowledge in society

The responsibility of society is based on security, equality, support and services in the social areas. However, the services offered by the municipalities are not adequate, due to their lack of knowledge about deaf people, about the significance of sign language for the deaf and deaf people´s need for sign language on their own terms. Monitoring of legislation connected to the social area is a must.