– When I was diagnosed 10 years ago, I did not imagine that I would stand for election as a politician. I thought I was going to have a job where I just dug into books. Suzanne Rødseth walks around Vestlandshuset in Bergen. The building, where the county council held, is brand new. In the autumn, it will probably be her workplace. As the Green Party’s second candidate for the county election in Vestland, there is a good chance that she will make it to the county council. Then she will probably also be the first popularly elected politician who is openly autistic. Rødseth has worked as group secretary for the Green Party for the past year. Now she is standing as the second candidate for the party in the county election in Vestland Photo: Synne Sørenes / news – Many prejudices – I think there are actually many autistic people in politics, but I can understand that one would prefer not to be open about it. There are many prejudices against autistic people, says Rødseth. She herself was diagnosed at the age of 26. By then she had spent seven years completing secondary school. It would take another nine to complete higher education. – It was good to have a peg to hang things on. I felt less alone in the problems I faced. Around one per cent of the population has an autism spectrum diagnosis, according to Helsenorge. Now the 37-year-old is keen to break down the prejudices many people have about autism. – I think autists in politics can safely stand up. And help give a broader picture of what an autistic person is. Still taboo, the Autism Association in Norway does not know of any other politicians who are open about having an autism spectrum diagnosis. – It is probably due to prejudice and a fear of discrimination. It is still taboo to be autistic, says leader in Hordaland, Mette I. Fratini Flesland She hopes Rødseth can inspire more people to talk about the diagnosis. – It is absolutely fantastic that she is standing up. She gives hope and shows that there are possibilities. All autistics are different, but I think many are perfect for a life in politics, precisely because they are often interested in small details. Mette I. Fratini Flesland is head of the Autism Association Hordaland and says she has no knowledge of other politicians who are open about the autism diagnosis. Photo: Synne Sørenes / news No overview In 2022, the Center for Equality published a report on participation and representation in municipal politics in Norway. The report gave an overview of gender, age and ethnicity among local politicians, but not about functional variations. – We would like to get an overview of disabled people as well, but privacy makes it illegal to ask about illness or diagnoses, says Annette Solberg in the Equality Center. Therefore, they do not know how many people with different functional variations are represented in Norwegian politics. – It is extremely important that all types of people are active in politics. The more different voices, the more democratic society becomes, she believes. Rødseth thinks she is a good politician because she gets extra involved in various topics. Photo: Synne Sørenes / news Must be put right Rødseth believes the diagnosis gives her several advantages in her work as a politician. – I can get very involved in things and read myself more than most. I am very persistent and can work for hours on the same task. The fact that she does not work as well at a stand or at building networks is a challenge, but one does not stop for life as a politician, she believes. – I’m probably better at writing an election program than talking to hundreds of people on the street. But I get a lot out of the close encounters with people who need change. She believes that, in general, more facilities must be made for people with different functional variations. – Facilitating one person or group does what usually benefits others as well. A wheelchair ramp gives the person in a wheelchair access to the meeting room, but also parents of young children with prams and pensioners with walkers.
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Suzanne may become the first popularly elected politician who is openly autistic – news Vestland
