The government and three opposition parties have reached a historic agreement in the field of disability, which includes 25 new initiatives. The agreement, the first of its kind since 2007, aims to reduce the administrative costs of municipalities, which, according to the agreement, are disproportionately high compared to the services citizens receive. Social and Housing Minister Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil highlighted at a press conference that the agreement marks the beginning of a new chapter in Danish disability policy. “It is high time to set a direction so that in this area now and in the future, we move towards predictability, less meaningless assessments, and greater security for people with disabilities and their families,” she said.
The agreement does not involve new financial subsidies, but rather a redistribution of existing resources, with the aim of freeing up funds by streamlining and reducing unnecessary expenses. This comes in response to a significant increase in expenses in the area, growing from 55.2 billion kroner in 2018 to 59.7 billion kroner in 2022. Initiatives include easier access to aids through a positive list, which will make it possible to provide common and basic aids without prior assessment. Additionally, there will be educational requirements for staff in secure institutions and a plan to get more people with disabilities into employment.
Despite the positive aspects of the agreement, it has faced criticism from various sides, including parties like the Danish People’s Party, the Denmark Democrats, and the Socialists People’s Party, all of whom left the negotiations. Critics point out that economic savings are prioritized over human considerations. “Economy before people,” stated Charlotte Broman Mølbæk in a written comment. Thorkild Olesen, chairman of the Danish Disability Organizations, expressed concern about the focus on short-term savings but also acknowledged that some of the new initiatives could lead to improvements for people with disabilities.
The agreement represents a step towards a more efficient and targeted effort in the field of disability, but the ongoing debate and differing opinions show that there are still challenges that need to be addressed going forward.