{"id":1985,"date":"2025-10-03T19:20:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T19:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sjalfsbjorg.is\/?page_id=1985"},"modified":"2026-05-12T11:49:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T11:49:56","slug":"stefna","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sjalfsbjorg.is\/en\/um-okkur\/stefna\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Help Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
Employment <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

According to the United Nations Human Rights Charter, which Iceland has signed, all citizens are guaranteed suitable employment.<\/p>

People with disabilities want to contribute to the strengthening of the nation's economy and pay taxes and duties like other citizens.
Work ennobles man, because only by engaging in the work for which his development and interests are suited can an individual be fulfilled.
People with disabilities do not have the same opportunities in the labor market as those considered non-disabled. Sj\u00e1lfsbj\u00f6rg, the National Federation of the Disabled, emphasizes making the best possible use of the work capacity of people with disabilities for society. The organization's policy on employment is as follows:
People with disabilities should have access to those jobs in the general labor market that are suitable for them.
People with disabilities shall, if necessary, have the option of a special support person when they begin work in the general labor market.
Disabled people who are unable to find work in the general labor market can get jobs in sheltered workshops and\/or in sheltered work settings at general workplaces.
Protected workplaces should also provide vocational training for people with disabilities, which increases their opportunities to enter the general labor market.
Job search and placement services for people with disabilities will be greatly expanded and established where they do not currently exist.
The employment situation for people with disabilities will be presented to employers as extensively and effectively as possible, so that they are aware of their status in the workforce.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
Process and Transportation <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
It must be considered a fundamental principle that the environment is planned with the needs of all citizens of society in mind.
The main policy objectives of Sj\u00e1lfsbj\u00f6rg in employment matters are as follows:<\/h5>
  • The country's legislation shall ensure that all buildings and structures are accessible to everyone.<\/li>
  • Work will be carried out in an organized manner to make all older buildings accessible to everyone.<\/li>
  • The systematic modification of municipal road networks and recreational areas will be undertaken, making them accessible to everyone.<\/li>
  • Ensure access for people with disabilities to the nation's national parks and protected areas.<\/li>
  • Efforts will be made to implement changes to public buses and other transportation vehicles, hotels, and travel centers to facilitate travel for people with disabilities. Travel services for people with disabilities will be established in all municipalities of the country.<\/li>
  • Furthermore, it must be ensured that taxi services are available to everyone, including people in wheelchairs.<\/li>
  • People with disabilities will be reimbursed for the additional costs that are an unavoidable consequence of their travel, whether domestic or international.<\/li><\/ul>
    The main policy objectives of Sj\u00e1lfsbj\u00f6rg in transportation are as follows:<\/h5>
    • It must be ensured that people with disabilities are able to own and operate their own vehicle, regardless of their financial situation.<\/li>
    • It shall be guaranteed in law that the Social Security Administration's grants for vehicle purchases increase in line with the price increases of vehicles.<\/li>
    • The grants from the Social Security Administration for the purchase of vehicles by those who need specially equipped vehicles shall always be so high that the individual concerned pays no more than two-thirds of the price of a vehicle in the average price range.<\/li>
    • General grants for vehicle purchases shall amount to at least one-third of the purchase price of a vehicle in the average price range.<\/li>
    • Subsidies for first-time car buyers shall be so high that the individual pays no more than one-third of the price of a car in the average price range.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>
      \u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
      Health issues <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      Sj\u00e1lfsbj\u00f6rg, the National Federation of the Disabled, seeks to promote the effective realization of health equity in this country. The main policy objectives of Sj\u00e1lfsbj\u00f6rg are therefore as follows:<\/h5>
      • To work towards ensuring that people with disabilities, regardless of residence, are provided with all possible and necessary medical care and training.<\/li>
      • That health care for people with disabilities be increased, and at the same time, that preventive health work be strengthened.<\/li>
      • Everyone should have the opportunity for rehabilitation for as long as they need.<\/li>
      • To promote increased scientific research.<\/li>
      • That home health care and other support services are available and adequate in all municipalities of the country. Home health care, attendant care, and other consumer-directed support services will be so robust that people with disabilities can live in their own homes for as long as possible.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>
        \u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
        Housing <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

        Sj\u00e1lfsbj\u00f6rg, the National Federation of the Disabled, wants EVERYONE to be able to decide for themselves where and in what kind of housing they live. Housing must be designed so that people can live in it from cradle to grave, even if they become disabled at some point in their lives.
        Both people with disabilities and those without belong in mainstream residential neighborhoods. We all have some special needs that must be met. Therefore, society must be required to serve the interests of all its citizens.
        The rehabilitation of people with disabilities and their return to suitable work and life is often dependent on being able to return to a society that can be navigated without barriers.
        The housing options offered must promote the independent living of the disabled individual. At the same time, it must be ensured that necessary services are provided.
        The core of Sj\u00e1lfsbj\u00f6rg, the national federation for the disabled, policy on this issue is the concept of "integration." Integration means that people with disabilities belong among people without disabilities. For this to succeed, certain requirements must be met:<\/p>

        • Housing must be accessible.<\/li>
        • The layout needs to be okay.<\/li>
        • Basic services must be available.<\/li>
        • The individual's right to self-determination must take precedence.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>
          \u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
          Housing <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

          Sj\u00e1lfsbj\u00f6rg, the National Federation of the Disabled, wants EVERYONE to be able to decide for themselves where and in what kind of housing they live. Housing must be designed so that people can live in it from cradle to grave, even if they become disabled at some point in their lives.
          Both people with disabilities and those without belong in mainstream residential neighborhoods. We all have some special needs that must be met. Therefore, society must be required to serve the interests of all its citizens.
          The rehabilitation of people with disabilities and their return to suitable work and life is often dependent on being able to return to a society that can be navigated without barriers.
          The housing options offered must promote the independent living of the disabled individual. At the same time, it must be ensured that necessary services are provided.
          The core of Sj\u00e1lfsbj\u00f6rg, the national federation for the disabled, policy on this issue is the concept of "integration." Integration means that people with disabilities belong among people without disabilities. For this to succeed, certain requirements must be met:<\/p>

          • Housing must be accessible.<\/li>
          • The layout needs to be okay.<\/li>
          • Basic services must be available.<\/li>
          • The individual's right to self-determination must take precedence.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>
            \u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
            Education <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

            Education is the key to a person's career and happiness in life. The policy of Sj\u00e1lfsbj\u00f6rg, the National Federation of the Disabled, on education for people with disabilities is, in a nutshell, this:<\/p>

            • As soon as a disability is detected in an individual, diagnosis, training, and instruction shall be initiated.<\/li>
            • Parents of disabled children shall have access to counseling.<\/li>
            • Everyone should have the opportunity to attend school.<\/li>
            • All educational institutions shall be accessible to people with disabilities.<\/li>
            • People with disabilities shall have access to appropriate instructional materials, learning support, and instruction.<\/li>
            • Special schools should be connected with other schools.<\/li>
            • The opportunities for people with disabilities to receive education or retraining are guaranteed.<\/li>
            • People with disabilities are guaranteed educational and career counseling.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>
              \u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
              \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
              \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
              \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
              Insurance matters <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
              \n\t\t\t\t
              \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

              Those who, due to a disability, cannot engage in gainful employment are entitled to receive a disability pension and other income sufficient for a decent life. The nation has taken on the responsibility, through the constitution, to provide for all who cannot provide for themselves. It is about establishing an arrangement that solves this problem in the most efficient way and in a manner that can create the greatest possible happiness for as many people as possible.
              The policy of Sj\u00e1lfsbj\u00f6rg, the National Federation of the Disabled, on insurance matters is as follows:<\/p>

              • Social security benefits should be high enough to provide a decent standard of living.<\/li>
              • Benefits from the social security system must not be a disincentive to work.<\/li>
              • All compensation payments shall be aimed at making the individual as independent and self-sufficient as possible.<\/li>
              • An assessment of disability shall be based on medical grounds.<\/li>
              • All additional costs due to disability shall be compensated.<\/li>
              • All assistive devices are fully paid for.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>