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Quantifying human needs? : A case study of the Swedish disability policy concerning personal assistance support for basic needs

This case study aimed to do a critical, intersectional, policy analysis of a disability policy regarding personal assistance support for basic human needs in everyday life. In January 2019, a comprehensive preparatory report about new suggestions was presented by the Swedish Government. This caused many reactions from disability rights organisations. One particular topic became heated and criticized in the debates, namely interpretations of the legal texts about personal assistance support concerning help with breathing and nutrition feeding. I have analysed interpretations of this legal text in the preparatory report, referral response and its result in the Government bill. The analysis shows problematic, normative understandings about the body and how a specific integrity demand have affected whether a person has been entitled to personal assistance to support their basic needs. Cost efficiency, quantification, and measurable goals are increasingly visible in the Swedish welfare society. People with disabilities and their entitlement to assistance have decreased for the sake of productivity and cost reductions. An intersectional perspective of the policy’s legal texts illustrates how it lacks an essential understanding of human values. There is a need for a deeper perspective of empathy to see that basic human needs are non-measurable.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:liu-177560
Date January 2021
CreatorsLock, Sara-Lina
PublisherLinköpings universitet, Tema Genus
Source SetsDiVA Archive at Upsalla University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeStudent thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text
Formatapplication/pdf
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

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