Åpningstale Rehabilitation International

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you all to our capital and to the 20th World Congress of Rehabilitation International, with the theme:

”Rethinking Rehabilitation”

The Norwegian Government is very pleased to support this important congress.

Whether we are involved in rehabilitation as users, practioners, researchers or politicians, we all need to reflect upon, and critically consider, our theories and methods. One of the aims of this congress is to stimulate you as participants to exchange ideas and practices.

Persons with a reduced functional ability face barriers that prevent participation on an equal basis. The disability arises in the gap between:

• the capabilities of the individual
• and the demands made by society

A policy to dismantle disabling barriers must strengthen the individual’s capabilities and at the same time make society more accessible.

A more inclusive society, where people with a reduced functional ability are ensured the opportunity to live like other people, necessitates a number of measures. This new and more holistic view requires multidisciplinary coordination and cooperation.

Traditionally, disability has been viewed as a quality of the individual – the disabled person. It has been closely linked to a medical interpretation, in which disability is seen as a result of a disease, defect or other biological deviation. According to such an interpretation, blindness is a biological deviation that means a person cannot see, while a wheelchair user cannot walk. This biological-medical interpretation is still widespread.

During the past 20 years, the biological-medical interpretation has been challenged. It has been pointed out that such an interpretation does not take the society surrounding the person into sufficient account.

It is clear that if stairs are replaced by ramps and lifts, then a wheelchair user is not as disabled as before. Similarly, deafness is less disabling in an environment where many people know sign language. Correspondingly, people with a reduced functional ability will in many individual situations not be disabled. A blind person is not very disabled when he/she is talking on the telephone.

The experience of being disabled is linked to the extent of the function impairment and when it arises in the person’s life. Although a congenital function impairment leads to the same practical difficulties as one acquired as an adult, the individual’s own experience will be different.

Our common goal is to reduce the gap between the individual’s capabilities and requirements of society. This requires measures to improve the individual’s capabilities and to change the requirements of society.

This understanding of disability is also influencing the medical world. In 2001, the World Health Organisation (WHO) adopted the International Classification of Functioning, disability and health. The International Classification of Functioning seeks to build a bridge between the biological-medical and more relational approach.

Disabled persons have the same rights as other women and men, girls and boys, to:

• freedom and personal safety
• work
• education
• a cultural life
• establish a family

The UN’s Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993. The International Bill of Human Rights constitute the political and moral foundation of the Rules. This is also reflected in the UN’s on-going work on an international convention on the rights and dignity of persons with reduced functional ability.

Considerable international cooperation is currently taking place on several levels to develop the policy applicable to persons with a reduced functional ability, both among user organisations and at a state level. Norway is involved in this work, through both the authorities and nongovermental organisations.

Every day, decisions are made about the design of homes, public buildings, recreation areas and means of transport. These decisions can provide new opportunities for people to take an active and equal part in society. This is a challenge for each and every one of us. I hope and believe that this World Congress will result in new proposals and constructive recommendations for our effort to make our societies a place for all.

I hope you also will find time to enjoy our capital during your stay here. It is at its most beautiful at the moment. Many of you have reduced functional ability. In order to make it easier for you to move around in Oslo, the City of Oslo and the Government have funded a accessibility map for downtown Oslo. You will find the map in the conference material.

I have followed the planning of the congress closely for many years and I am sure that all participants will benefit from the programme for the comming days. Hopefully everyone will bring home new perspectives and concepts in the field.

Thank you