Hi Steve and All,
I got interested in what you mean by a "broader" scheme and access to
"mainstream services". My real questions come last so scroll down if not
interested in the preamble.
First an explanation of what the Swedish DP (that formally is given on
basis for personal assistance needs) covers: i.e. all assistance needed,
not only with intimate personal services, but for assistance you need at
work, in you leisure time, for travels doing house work and anything
else you would do yourself if not a disabled person.
Then an explanation of what the given sum is calculated to cover: wages
social security, pension schemes and such, as well as accounting paper
work etc. (which you can choose to do yourself or pay someone else to do
+ costs for your PA for example his/her ticket if your goint to the
movies, taking a ride on a boat, eating out on a day of shopping etc.
If you need someone to help you with "guaranteeing your day" so to
speak, that is if you have a need for this f.ex. due to an intellectual
impariment or a brain injury, this can be given as extra DP hours. So
you would hire someone to help you with this. For the most of us the
paying of onerous duties however still exist - if we do not chooose to
stay with the municipalities of course - and pay with our life quality.
Sorry about the lenghty explanations but I just want to make sure we
have the same background info before I start my real questions.
Though I can see other areas than this one, that could well be a target
for DP, I cannot see a very large field. There obviously is a big risk
that government would like to buy you off from demanding actions against
discriminatory structures if you started to use DP instead chopping away
the disabling obstacles. I would f.ex.not want DP instead of an
accessible school even if it meant I could hire two bodybuilders to lift
me up the stairs.
Questions:
When do you think DP schemes should be the solution? And when should
they be avoided?
Is there a risk that DP schemes will undermine the fight for "enabling
environments"?
Best
Susanne Berg
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