The case in summary A family in Balsfjord found out this year that their son Edvin will never be able to speak. They must travel to Trondheim up to four times a year for the next fifteen years to learn how to talk to him. They have applied to Balsfjord municipality to have the travel expenses covered, which will be between NOK 65,000 to 80,000 a year. Balsfjord proposes to cover up to NOK 15,000. The family fears they will have to move to Trondheim, as they cannot afford to pay for the rest of the journey themselves. The councilor believes that the state must foot the bill for such expenses. The Norwegian Association of the Deaf believes there is a violation of human rights, and sees this as a problem especially in the north. The fact box was created by a journalist, not KI. “Tough!” “You build!” Tor Sverre Iselvmo sits on the floor and plays with Duplo together with his 14-month-old son Edvin. He whispers the words so they can barely be heard. At the same time, he uses his hands to make signs. In February, he and his mother Kajsa Søreng found out that Edvin is completely deaf. They have known that he has a hearing impairment. But this February day, they learned that he will never be able to speak. – You get very sad every now and then and think about what his life will be like. But then, through the process, we found out that he can live a completely normal life. He is not sick. The only thing that changes is that he will use sign language, says Søreng. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news Now they have to learn a completely new language to be able to communicate with their son. So must Edvin’s older sister Tilje. Until Edvin is 16, the family will go on courses in Trondheim four times a year. A town over 100 miles away from their home in Balsfjord municipality in Troms. It is the nearest offer. Statped covers board and lodging, and Nav covers lost earnings. The municipalities cover travel expenses. But it is not required by law for the municipalities to cover the journey, and therefore the family has encountered a problem with Balsfjord municipality. Because the municipality will not cover the entire travel amount. The administration proposes to cover up to NOK 15,000 a year. The family must pay the rest themselves. – We have calculated that it will cost us a total of NOK 55,000 a year out of our own pocket to teach our son the language, says Iselvmo. There will be a total expenditure of over NOK 800,000 for the family over the next 15 years. “Ultimately, we have to move from Balsfjord,” he says. On the wall by the play corner hang drawings of how to say different toys in sign language. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news Northern Norwegian municipalities often say no The municipality has calculated that it will cost NOK 30,000 a year for the parents to travel to Trondheim. Neither Tilje nor Edvin is included in the calculation. At first the family was refused by the municipality. After speaking with the councillor, Iselvmo was told that they must cover up to NOK 15,000 a year until next year. This will be dealt with in an extraordinary chairman’s meeting and in the municipal council on Monday. The justification states that it is important for Edvin to be able to communicate with those closest to him. At the same time, the municipality is in a financial situation of pressure. It also states that this could create a precedent for other non-statutory expenses such as provision in the form of extra resources at SFO for pupils with special needs, or covering school transport to neighboring municipalities for pupils who want to attend a Montessori school. – They justify it by saying that the municipal economy is more important than the best interests of a child. I don’t think in a welfare state that a municipality should be allowed to decide a child’s future, says Iselvmo. Like most children, Edvin thinks it’s fun to throw duplo on the floor. But he doesn’t hear the loud noises that are made when he does. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news Petter Noddeland is secretary general of the Norwegian Association of the Deaf. He is not surprised that the family faces opposition from the municipality. – We have heard of several cases, especially in northern Norway, where they say no to cover expenses for deaf and hard of hearing children, he says. He believes the law is not clear enough when it comes to the municipalities’ responsibilities, and believes the municipalities take advantage of it. – We see this as a violation of human rights. It is a human right to have access in one’s language. It is also a breach of the Language Act, says Noddeland. Petter Noddeland in the Norwegian Association of the Deaf believes that Balsfjord municipality is violating human rights by not covering the family’s travel expenses. Photo: ASTRID JOHANNE SØRNES / news He points out that a child’s lack of language can lead to major challenges and costs for both the child and society in the long term. A child can have behavioral problems, lose schooling and, as an adult, miss out on working life. – If we can start with a good sign language offer, then the child will grow up to be able to contribute to working life and society. It all starts with a municipality providing support for travel expenses. It’s that simple and that serious, says Noddeland. Mamma Kajsa uses signs when she speaks to both children. This is also how older sister can learn to talk to little brother. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news – Don’t send the bill to the municipalities Councilor in Balsfjord, Øyvind Korsberg, says the family is being looked after by the municipality as best it can. – We try our best to stretch ourselves a little extra, but we have a whole to consider. And we have several families with similar challenges that are not covered by the public sector, says the councillor. Councilor Øyvind Korsberg believes that the Norwegian authorities must cover the travel expenses of families like Edvin’s. Photo: Aslaug Aarsæther / news He says he wants to inform the politicians that the expenses are greater than the estimate they have received for consideration, and agrees that NOK 55,000 a year is a lot to pay for a family. He also points out that it will be even more expensive for a family living on the coast of Finnmark. – This is a national challenge that national authorities must solve, and not pass the bill on to the municipalities. There will be a lot of discrimination depending on where you live in the country, and I think that’s unfortunate, says Korsberg. The parents have realized that Edvin can have a completely normal life, as long as he learns a language. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news – Here there is another weakness in the central regulations, but that does not exempt the municipality from rectifying this. It is important that parents are able to communicate with their own children, says Fridtjof Winther. He is a leader in Balsfjord Høyre and sits in the opposition. He believes the municipality must cover all travel expenses for the family. Winther recognizes that the municipality is in a strained financial situation, but believes there are other places they can make savings. – First of all, I think it is unnecessary that they have to have a fight against the municipality to get the resources they need to be able to live here, says Winther. Fridtjof Winther in Balsfjord Høyre believes the municipality must pay for the family’s trips. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news The Ministry of Education informs news that in the study “Sign language for life” there is a proposal to look at the scheme. The investigation is being processed by the Ministry of Culture and Equality. – Pushed out of the country At home in Nordkjosbotn, the family has gone out into the garden to play. Mamma Kajsa blows soap bubbles at Edvin and Tilje. On the wall of the house hangs a “For sale” sign. The family has outgrown the terraced house. But they are unsure whether their new home will be in Balsfjord. If they cannot cover all the travel costs, they will have to move closer to Trondheim. Away from both family and friends, and the municipality they have lived in all their lives. The family has outgrown their home. Now they don’t know if they want to buy a new house in Balsfjord. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news Both Iselvmo and Søreng are provoked that northern Norwegian municipalities in particular refuse to help with travel expenses. – It shows that deaf people are not wanted here in Northern Norway. People are pressured to move to Trondheim, which has a good environment for the deaf. And that means that there will not be a good deaf environment in the north, says Søreng. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news Published 24.06.2024, at 09.40
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Feeling pressured out of Balsfjord – news Troms and Finnmark
