Uloba – Independent Living Norge SA fights for the freedom and equality of disabled people. This means that we have to fight against discrimination and the deprivation of freedom.
These are some of the battles we are still fighting
Citizen-controlled personal assistance (PA) is not available in one out of three municipalities, despite the fact that it is now a statutory right for many disabled people. Among the municipalities that offer PA, there are municipalities that withhold information about PA, municipalities that redefine PA as a home care service, and municipalities that limit our freedom by applying PA rules that are not in accordance with the decisions of the central authorities.
Disabled children are sent away
A growing number of disabled people have to move into institutions because many municipalities think they are the easiest and cheapest option. Chief municipal executives and mayors boast and get their pictures in the local papers when they ‘co-locate’ all categories of disabled people, people with drug problems, people with dementia, the elderly etc. in large care ghettos. Disabled children are sent away from their families for longer or shorter periods of so-called respite care, and lose touch with their local communities and the opportunity to live an ordinary family life.
Society sets the limits
Many people still think that it is us, the disabled, there is something wrong with when we do not participate in the same arenas as other people, whether that be in education, work or leisure activities. They often assume that the limits we have to live with are there because we been dealt a ‘poor hand’ of diseases, injuries and ‘defects’. A shame for us, but that’s just how it is.
This misconception means they cannot see that it is society – not our bodies – that limit us, and it also makes it difficult for them to understand that disabled people are discriminated against. We must therefore remind ourselves and others that our main problem is the obstacles created by society, not by our functional impairments.
We fight against discrimination
When disabled people cannot use buildings, public transport or media on an equal footing with other people, it is not because we have a functional impairment. The blame rests with those who have planned and created a society that only serves the majority, and not everyone.
Being a member of Uloba – Independent Living Norge means being aware that differential treatment is discrimination, and we have to fight against that. Welcome to the fight!
Uloba’s identity
Uloba is a non-profit organisation that is part of the Independent Living movement. We work to promote full equality, participation in society and freedom of self-expression for disabled people. The goal is equal and productive citizens. Uloba works to tear down the barriers created by society, fight discrimination, prejudice, myths and disempowerment, and to promote the liberation of disabled people.