Past,present and future for people with teaming disabilities in Sweden

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the current situation for people with learning disabilities in Sweden. However, in order to judge their situation today it is necessary to present both an historical background and a context. This paper firstly presents some thoughts concerning the relative nature of handicap and then explores the historical perspective of services for people with learning disabilities in Sweden. A new law of rights for people with disabilities (I994) places the rights connected with social citizenship into sharp focus. Brief demographic details are included to enable the reader to make comparisons with other countries. The terms that describe people with disabilities have changed over the years. In this paper the words 'disability' and 'learning disabilities' describe what previously, in Sweden, would have been called 'mentally retarded' or 'mentally handicapped'. These latter terms are only used in this paper when it is necessary to qualify the historical perspective (see also Lewis & Ferguson I997). This paper concludes with a short discussion concerning some of the current, and possible future, problems in the field of learning disabilities along with those undertaking research in this area.