Advice for people with functional diversity

The Council for Persons with Functional Variation is an advisory body for the municipality or county council. The council has the right to express itself in matters concerning persons with functional diversity, and to make proposals and recommendations in such matters. The council can also take up matters on its own initiative.

The purpose of the council is to ensure broad, open and accessible participation in matters concerning persons with functional diversity, and in particular matters of a principled character must be brought to the council. The council works in connection with the CRPD (UN Convention on People with Disabilities). 

The councils mainly consist of representatives from interest organizations that work for people with illness and/or functional variation, but also selected members from the municipal council/district committee. 

All municipalities and county councils are obliged to have advice for people with a variety of functions. This follows from Section 5-2 of the Local Government Act.

As mentioned, the council works with issues that are particularly important for people with functional diversity. The council pronounces on major matters such as the financial plan and annual budget, land use and planning programmes, traffic, education (nursery, school, leisure, culture and sport), as well as health and care services.

Council members can raise matters on their own initiative and get answers from politicians and the administration in the municipality/district.

In Bufdir's guide to advice for people with functional variations, the following is stated:

"Realization of the rights in the CRPD is determined to a large extent by municipalities and county councils. The councils have an important task in ensuring that rights are fulfilled.

At the start of a new council term, the councils should familiarize themselves with the articles in the convention and discuss how they can help in the best possible way to realize the decisions in their own municipality/county municipality. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities should be a superstructure/framework for the work in the council."

Could you imagine sitting on a council for people with functional variations in your municipality?

Then you should contact an interest organization you are a member of (e.g. Løvemammaene) and register your interest. Interest organizations that represent people with functional variations have the right to put forward proposals for members to the council, and usually enter their candidates in municipal elections every four years.

Legislation / useful links

Municipalities Act § 5-12.

"The municipalities and county municipalities must ensure that people with reduced functional capacity are guaranteed open, broad and accessible participation in the work on matters that are particularly important for people with reduced functional capacity. This applies, among other things, to access, work against discrimination on the basis of reduced functional capacity and services for people with reduced functional capacity."

Bufdir's guide to advice for people with functional variations

The government's strategy for equality for people with disabilities for the period 2020–2030