Piteå municipality’s decision to deny support to deaf-blind woman sparks outrage
Evelina Lindberg, 35, has been left devastated after Piteå municipality rejected her request for continued personal support from a caregiver who knows tactile sign language. Despite being deaf-blind, the municipality believes that she can live a “reasonable life” with the help of home care and housing support, which cannot communicate with her.
Evelina’s mother, Ingela Lindberg, expressed her dismay over the decision, stating that it effectively destroys her daughter’s life. Previously, a personal support person who knows tactile sign language worked with Evelina 20 hours a week, providing her with crucial support in communicating and carrying out everyday tasks.
The rejection from the municipality has left the Lindberg family in shock, with Ingela describing it as “a punch in the stomach.” In the municipality’s decision, it is stated that Evelina needs help with chores and accompaniment, but the absence of support in sign language communication puts her independence and well-being in jeopardy.
Mother Ingela questioned the decision, asserting that Evelina’s life will be severely limited without the right support. She has chosen to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal, as she fears that without the necessary support, her daughter’s life will simply be a matter of survival, not living.
When approached for comments, Lena Enqvist, head of care in Piteå municipality, emphasized that the municipality has invested significantly in the deaf-blind target group and has a deaf-blind representative employed as a service for citizens in need. Enqvist highlighted that the assessment of a reasonable life is based on laws and practice, and that there is always the possibility for individuals to appeal if they are dissatisfied with the municipality’s decision.
Evelina’s former doctor, Claes Möller, also weighed in on the decision, comparing it to torture. He expressed concerns about the impact of isolation on Evelina’s cognitive abilities, stressing that the inability to communicate with others could have severe consequences on her overall well-being.
The case has sparked outrage and garnered support from various advocacy groups and individuals, who are calling for the municipality to reconsider its decision and provide the necessary support for people like Evelina, who rely on tactile sign language for their communication needs.