This is the case: – Kristin Thoen, mother of a boy with Asperger’s and Tourette syndrome, believes Bærum municipality is failing in the care of children with disabilities. – Thoen has applied for relief from the municipality, but believes she has received less help than she needs. She describes a long and frustrating process with the municipality. – The organization Løvemammaene, which helps families with children with major follow-up needs, has sent a notice to Bærum municipality. They point to long processing times, undignified treatment of families and lack of help. – Bærum municipality says they are surprised by the notice, but take it seriously. They will now go through the allegations in the notice together with Løvemammaene. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. A nine-year-old boy sits on his knees on the living room floor with his mother. Right as it is, he throws his head back. At irregular intervals, he also takes a sudden breath in. It is reminiscent of loud hiccups. The 9-year-old boy likes to build Lego. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / NRKThe 9-year-old boy likes to build Lego. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news Needs close follow-up Kristin Thoen is alone in caring for her nine-year-old son. He has Asperger’s syndrome and Tourette’s syndrome. Kristin describes her son as a caring and decent boy. He likes to explore things, likes to learn and loves to read. But he struggles in communication and interaction with others. – Being social is the most difficult thing for him. He also struggles to know his own needs; go to the bathroom, eat and drink. Things have to be in a particular way. Like he won’t wear socks. According to the mother, it can take anywhere from half an hour to three hours to put on her son’s socks. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news And it is difficult for him to end what he is doing. That’s why things take time. – It requires me to be present with him and close at all times. So I hardly get to take a shower or go to the toilet myself, says the mother. She tells of an isolated existence at home. – I feel like I’m in a prison in my own home. Feeling opposed When Kristin’s son had started school, she applied to the allocation office in the municipality for relief. She got that – but far less than what she thought she needed. An endless battle against the municipality was underway. Kristin Thoen has many papers about her case. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / NRKKristin Thoen has many papers about her case. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news She sent several complaints. – I feel that the municipality works to work against me instead of helping. Only after her fourth complaint, and rejection of the application for BPA, did Bærum municipality forward the complaint to the State Administrator. By then 1.5 years had passed. – It is completely absurd that it takes so long. Kristin Thoen herself has worked as a BPA, but she took sick leave because it was too much for her at home. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / NRKKristin Thoen herself has worked as a BPA, but she took sick leave because it was too much for her at home. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news In communication with the municipality, Kristin also feels suspicious and that the municipality has treated her in an undignified manner. And she is not alone. Notice to the municipality Løvemammaene is a national association that helps families with children with chronic illness and major follow-up needs. 26 of the families live in Bærum, including Kristin. Now the Lion Mothers sound the alarm. Nina Bakkefjord is a social worker and head of Løvemammaene’s help service. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news – We see that there is a serious failure and that this does not only apply to individual cases, says manager Nina Bakkefjord. The organization has sent an eleven-page notice to the control committee in the municipality, where they point to three things in particular: Unreasonably long processing time Families are met in an undignified manner They do not get the help they need Avisa Budstikka discussed the notice first. Nina Bakkefjord believes they have good documentation for the allegations they make against Bærum municipality. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / NRKNina Bakkefjord believes they have good documentation for the allegations they make against Bærum municipality. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news Bakkefjord believes that the accusations they bring against Bærum municipality are well documented. – We can prove it in the form of documents that show how many times we have requested that cases must be sent to the State Administrator. In addition, they have decisions, insight into many cases and they have also participated in many meetings with the allocation office in the municipality. – What do you think Bærum municipality must do? – There is a need for a proper review of how the allocation office actually works, she says. Surprised by the notice No one in the political leadership in the municipality wants to respond to news’s inquiries in this matter. Instead, it is, among other things, the communications manager, Richard Kongsteien, who answers. – We do not recognize ourselves in Løvemammaene’s claim of system failure and breach of the Public Administration Act, says Kongsteien. He says they are surprised by the warning, but that they take it seriously. The leader of the control committee, Kjell Maartmann-Moe from the Labor Party, says Bærum municipality will review the allegations in the notice together with the Løvemammaenes help service. Leader of the control committee, Kjell Maartmann-Moe from the Labor Party, says the municipal director and the Løvemammaene are already in talks about the notice against the municipality. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news He is now waiting for a briefing from the municipal director about the status of the case. – Finally, I expect a report. And I hope the Lions’ help service will also be satisfied with that. – What do you think about people reacting to both long treatment times and the fact that they don’t get the offer they want here in the municipality? – Here we have to bring out the facts in the case. And the more common understanding you have about it, the better. But the control committee must first have the facts on the table before we act. Sicker from the help Kristin believes that the relief her son is now getting is making him sicker. He has been placed in a group with other children, but she believes he needs one-to-one follow-up. Kristin Thoen has dreams for the future. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / NRKKristin Thoen has dreams for the future. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news She has chosen to tell her story because she wants a change. – I want others not to have to experience what I have experienced. She dreams of living a normal family life. Kristin hopes that it can be easier for parents of children with disabilities to apply for help, and that laws and regulations must be followed. – That it should not be possible to train in the way Bærum municipality does. Hi Did you get any thoughts while reading this article? Feel free to send me an email! I have previously written, among other things: Do you have any tips for other matters I should look into? I treat all information confidentially. Please feel free to contact me!
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Løvemammaene’s help service has sent a notice to Bærum municipality – Greater Oslo
