Handisam – the Swedish Agency for Disability Policy Co-ordination – helps to remove the obstacles which people with disabilities are still encountering in the community.
As a part of Swedish disability policy, Handisam has two paramount tasks: co-ordination and acceleration.
The co-ordinating role includes, for example, supporting the sectoral authorities tasked with implementing the national plan for disability policy. Work on the action plan is followed up and evaluated. Handisam is the Government’s staff and expert authority.
The accelerating role means, among other things, developing knowledge concerning accessibility in the community and in particular ensuring that the public sector sets a good example. Handisam has issued Guidelines for an Accessible Government Service in which national authorities can study ways of making information, facilities and activities accessible to all. Local and regional authorities, business enterprise and organisations must also be encouraged to adopt a working approach incorporating the modern disability perspective.
Handisam recommends everyone working with the national action plan to devise general rather than individual solutions: a good solution for some is a good solution for everyone.
Handisam´s operational philosophy:
Handisam speeds progress towards a society in which everyone can participate on equal terms, regardless of functional capacity.