Several of Nikolai Skovgaard’s mates have been at Folke Høgskule. For a long time, the 20-year-old has been looking forward to the fact that it will be his turn to leave his home village of Haddal in Ulstein municipality in Sunnmøre and live with other young people. His eyes light up when he tells about what he will be involved in. – I will go on a travel itinerary and travel to Spain, Iceland and Israel. It will be fun. – Surprising and frustrating But Nikolai has autism, and in order to get by at the folk university, he must have an assistant. He doesn’t know it himself, but NAV has said no to his application. – It is very surprising and a little frustrating. I think they consider him to be smarter than he is, says dad Klaus Skovgaard. Klaus Skovgaard thinks that the rule change is completely incomprehensible. Photo: Arne Flatin / news No longer entitled to an assistant According to the father, Nikolai is considered to be functioning well. He can take the bus and engage in various leisure activities, as long as it is organized or he gets help from assistants or others. As a result, he is hit by a new rule that the politicians adopted last year: If the pupils manage certain things themselves, such as taking a shower, they no longer need an assistant. This means that it has become more difficult for students with diagnoses such as Down’s syndrome, autism and developmental disabilities to get support for assistants who enable them to go to folk university. – I am disappointed and pissed off, says Ane Tingelstad Wøyen, head of the Folkehøyskolerådet. Must go straight into job training According to figures obtained by the Folkehøyskolesrådet, 48 students with developmental disabilities or other diagnoses have been rejected after the rule change. The year before, the same thing happened to 13 people. – These pupils must then go straight from secondary school to work training in the municipality. I think it is both harmful and unfortunate, says Wøyen. She refers to the Equality Reform, which makes it clear that the developmentally disabled must be able to attend folk university, and asks the government to give a clear signal to NAV about how the rules are to be understood. Do not plan to change the rule The Ministry of Labor and Inclusion is responsible for the rule change, and has no plans to change the rule now. – There is no work that has been started, but we see that it may be more appropriate to look at whether to shape the offer for this group in a slightly different way, says State Secretary Thomas Norvoll. Thomas Norvoll (Ap), State Secretary in the Ministry of Labor and Inclusion Photo: regjeringen.no Positive experience On the “Travel, live and leisure” line at Ålesund Folk High School, they make arrangements for students who need extra follow-up. – I have made many new friends here. There are good people who are difficult to find outside of a folk college, says Marko (20), who is one of six students on the line. Despite the fact that they have different needs, Marko and the other five have had a fantastic year together at Ålesund folk high school. Photo: Elisabeth Skarrud / news Even though the snow lies far below the mountain tops, the pupils swim in the fjord. For Marko, who has an assistant, it has been positive to have new experiences and move to a new city for the first time. – It is interesting to build another city and open up the horizon a little. Without the support of assistants, this group cannot attend folk university, says environmental worker Hanne Welle. – There is much that is new at a public university. What has worked before may not work when you have to live with 60 others. “A year for all” is the slogan for Norwegian folk high schools. Here, some students at Ålesund Folkehøgskule are swimming in the Sulafjorden. Photo: Elisabeth Skarrud / news Has complained On the table in front of Klaus Skovgaard in Ulstein is a solid stack of paper. It is documentation that he has used to complain that his son does not get an assistant at the folk university. – Do you think that any folk university will accept your son without getting money for an assistant? – No. He needs a lot of follow-up, guidance and training. Until the family has received a response to the complaint, the son will not know anything about what has happened. – How am I going to explain to Nikolai that he is not allowed to go to folk high school? He is so set on this. I don’t know how I’m going to manage it. Father Klaus Skovgaard and son Nikolai Skovgaard watch the TV series “Den unge Fleksnes” together. Photo: Arne Flatin / news
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Rule change means that Nikolai Skovgaard from Ulstein will not be allowed to attend folk high school – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
