The father of a disabled boy says the city must do better
« This is very soon to us. We have not received any information, neither from the City of Reykjavik nor the management of this activity, » says Ásgeir Sverrisson in a conversation with mbl.is.
Ásgeir’s son has a typical autism and a great deal of developmental impairment and has attended the work of workshop, work and activity for people with disabilities, for five years. Now the intention is to transfer the workshop and combine it with Opus, the Working and Activity Center.
The staff of the resources and family members of service users have expressed great concern about their transport and their consequences, both on the operations and the welfare of service users. They say the decision on the transfer of such services must ensure that housing, environment and facilities are suitable for a diverse group of users.
In this case, services are being transferred to housing on the second floor without an outdoor area and sufficient space for specific activities and this violates basic criteria.
« If you could choose, you would have gone the opposite way to what the city is doing now, » says Asgeir.
The new location of the remedies will be on the upper floor of the premises at Skeifan 8. There is no outdoor area and there is insufficient space for specific activities.
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Can withstand poorly large groups and high open spaces
Asked when he was notified of the transfer, Ásgeir, the workshop managers, has emailed last week, which did not discuss the transport, but that the remedy would be closed during transport, for one and a half weeks around the end of May/June.
« It was as if managers assumed that we knew of the transfer, » information mail about the transfer should have been received by everyone from the welfare field « was said in the mail, but no one has received anything from the welfare field. This was the first and only time we have been notified of this proposed transfer.
The staff said they were going to do everything they could to accommodate us, this came as a great surprise to them too, the transfer had not come when they were planning a summer vacation. So there has been no reservation on this, ”says Ásgeir.
Then he heard a workshop employee and found that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction among the staff with the transport. They look poorly at the housing in themselves and do not consider it to be suitable for many service users.
« For example, like my son, he can tolerate it for a long time in a large group and a large open space. Part of the day, he has to get away from the scale and the noise and get his task in peace in a confined space, just to calm down a bit, and that applies to many more.
There is a great deal of dissatisfaction among the workshop staff with the transport. They like the housing in Skeifan compared to what they are used to, at Bæjarflöt 17, and do not consider it to be suitable for many service users.
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Reasonable to assess the needs of the disabled
Ásgeir says relatives’ disagreements are primarily about the city’s lack of communication and the resources with relatives, service users and staff. The staff of the remedy came to the transfer by chance when a proposal was published before the City Council.
« They coincidentally saw this in the city council’s agenda. No one is notified of anything or anything and no relatives or professionals asked an opinion, » he says, adding that the person written for this proposal is working on the financial and risk management of a property office, which does not come close to work with disabled persons.
« It is a question of what kind of qualifications it is for assessing housing and the needs of the disabled. This arises that this decision has been made for savings, » he says. It is important that all services are carried out with a view to improving services, not only to achieve financial goals.
It should be noted that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides for the right of people with disabilities to influence decisions related to them. Then, in a letter from the Smidjan staff, Opus says that there does not seem to be a real consultation with users and professionals working with them.
« Quite alarming thought »
« We are very concerned about this, » says Asgeir. Now it is supported by the transport that he is worried that nothing will be ready when the business is moved.
« If this is to be re -enacted to suit this group, it will take a considerable amount of time, unless they just want to have it as an open office space, which is quite alarming. »
The space that the group in the workshop is used to is, according to Ásgeir, warm. It consists of many spaces that are easy to divide, there is a pleasant atmosphere and the acoustics are very good, but Ásgeir is very concerned about the acoustics in open spaces like the new site.
For individuals with specific needs, high -noise housing is not invited. The service must be based on the basic rules of universal design, which takes into account situations that create calm and security for both users and staff.
The space that the group is used to in the workshop is, according to Ásgeir, warm. It is that Bæjarflöt 17 in Grafarvogur where there is a beautiful nature, where there is a pleasant atmosphere and the acoustics is very good, some of which are very concerned about the new location.
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« A dangerous location for them »
Outdoors, Ásgeir’s son and other service users are significantly important.
« Outdoors is the best thing my son gets. He goes for a long walk every day, it helps him focus and can do other tasks better, » says Ásgeir.
Therefore, the outdoor area is a key factor in its welfare and the group, both for physical and mental health. It is the opinion of staff and relatives that this is a step in reverse with other countries that have focused on improving access to green areas for disabled people.
The new location is in Skeifan 8, where there is a lot of traffic and outdoor activities and walks not very exciting.
« My boy, for example, has no sense of watching cars, traffic and stuff, it would have to hold his hand all the time.
In the new location, high traffic and outdoor activities and walks are not very exciting. Ásgeir’s son has no sense of watching cars or traffic, and other service users tend to try to wipe or run away from staff.
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« Winging between places for more than half a year »
When asked, Ásgeir Dream Status says that many small resources were scattered all over. Then you could tailor those resources according to the needs of individuals, which are so uneven that it is difficult to create resources that are suitable for everyone.
« If you could choose, you would have gone the opposite way to what the city is doing now. »
Then he says his family has experience of the city’s remorse. When his son graduated from the special division of the Multicultural School at Ármúla, which is said to be a very good resource, no remedy could be taken.
« Then a new resort was actually created where they were left in the air with no housing, wandering between places for more than six months. It was a very bad time. It wasn’t until we got our boy to a workshop that he started to go better, it has taken his time. »
Asgeir’s son has now been in a workshop for five years. It has been successful, but it is Ásgeir’s and wife’s opinion that the workshop is completely on the verge of being too big a remedy, and now this new location seems to be much bigger.
« I have not seen drawings, but I have the words of the staff for how the space will be. Facilities, « replies Asgeir, asked how he expects his son to respond to the change.
The staff of the remedy has taken a similar string, but they have pointed out that inappropriate housing can lead to increased stress, behavioral problems and even the risk for both users and staff. By narrowing space utilization and cutting down facilities, there is thus creating an unacceptable work environment and the risk of increased stress.
Asgeir’s son has now been in a workshop for five years. It has been successful, but it is Ásgeir’s and wife’s opinion that the workshop is completely on the verge of being too big a remedy, and now this new location seems to be much bigger.
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Necessary to get an opinion from relatives and professionals
Ásgeir says general communication with the workshop has decreased considerably since his son started there five years ago. Daily communications with general employees are still taking place, relatives will be able to hear what was done throughout the day and what they got to eat, but they never get anything from the resort.
« When my son was just starting out, regular emails were always with detailed information about what was new happening or what was ahead, but it has not been for a long time. The communication is very small.
Just like now, there has been no consultation with us, nothing. What I know today is not the initiative of anyone except relatives and staff outside the board. There is nothing more to inform about this. «
Then he says it looks like the transport has been determined and nothing will be reversed from the decision.
« If it is, then it has to be done better. Both communicating and by getting the opinion of relatives and professionals before taking such action. I understand that the staff has not been asked either, they have just heard this.
If it is to be moved on May 26, there is not much time for any consultation on how to furnish such housing as best for this group. «
Finally, he says the transport will be very difficult for many. It may well be that this location is suitable for someone who is more on that line to sit in a cafe and take a look at the camp, « but it is by no means suitable for everyone, and that I do not think in this resort ».
« Our boy does not speak anything and although he can be around people, he feels better to be in a small group, or even one with an employee. »
