L E S E - O G S K R I V E V A N S K E R - Nordens Välfärdscenter

ÖVERSÄTTNING: Magnus GudnasonSummaryBy early intervention at school,motivating teaching methods andby implementing welfare technology(Ambient Assisted Livingtechnologies), it is fully possible toachieve good reading and writingskills for all – whether one readswith the eyes or the ears by theaid of speech synthesis. Learningbest takes place when it is relatedto the student’s field of interest.When it comes to adult learning,we add life experience to field ofinterest. It is not just young peoplewho have problems with readingand writing. 10-15 per cent of theadult population in the Nordiccountries have inferior readingskills to such a degree that theyhave problems functioning properlyin working and everyday life. Thisprecisely might be a contributorycause to young people droppingout of school and adults out of thelabour market.It is on this basis that the NordicCentre for Welfare and SocialIssues puts focus on reading andwriting difficulties in this themepublication.Even though working life, schooland education systems and thepossibilities of aid vary from onecountry to another, people’s experienceof the difficulties is quitesimilar and solutions that prove tobe fruitful in one country, tend tobe equally fruitful in the othercountries.This publication has an extensivefacts section, a section on havingreading and writing difficulties, asection from the point of view ofpoliticians and user organizations,a section on research and developmentalwork and finally an internationaloverview. In addition, asalways in our theme publications,we make a few recommendations.1. Democracy and inclusionin society and schoolSweden and Denmark have ratifiedthe UN convention on the rights ofpeople with disabilities. The otherNordic countries are aiming atratification. NVC means thatdisabilities occur when the surroundingsare not adapted to therequirements of the citizens. Wecannot stand silently by witnessingapproximately one million citizensin the Nordic countries beingdiscriminated against due toreading and writing difficulties. Itbasically comes down to being ableto make use of your democraticrights as a citizen. From participatingin elections to club membership,taking part at parentalmeetings and in debates – and notthe least when contacting publicauthorities and enterprises on theInternet. Making text-based societyavailable to everybody is absolutelyessential. Where this cannot bedone by the use of universalsolutions, it has to be done individuallyby using compensatoryassistive technology.We recommend• that all public information,printed or on the Internet, ismade available by syntheticspeech• that lacking accessible informationshould be regarded asdiscriminatory and in defiance ofthe UN conventionAt school, arrangements must bemade to give everybody equalopportunities of succeeding. InDenmark, people used to beopposed to placing reading andwriting with the aid of computerson equal footing with reading andwriting with pen and paper. Rubbish,people said. This attitude, stillto be found in the other Nordiccountries, NVC totally disagreeswith. It is all about equal rights.We recommend• that reading a text by using yourhearing is equal to using yoursight to read• not making arrangements for8SamantektSummaryTiivistelmä73