Evelina Lindberg from Piteå is both deaf and functionally blind. Despite that, the municipality withdrew much of the interpreter support she had to cope with everyday life. Now she gets a right against the municipality in the administrative court.
– Now we hope for a significant improvement. The administrative court says that Evelina has the right to good living conditions and not just the minimum level decided by the municipality, says her mother Ingela Lindberg after the verdict.
TV4 Nyheterna has told in several features how Evelina Lindberg fought against Piteå municipality to get the right to more support to cope with everyday life. Previously, she had a support person with knowledge of tactile sign language who helped her, but the municipality believed that she should manage with regular home care and a sign interpreter four hours a week.
The administrative court now states that “Evelina Lindberg’s disability is great and causes significant difficulties in daily life and that she therefore has an extensive need for support and service”.
A new assessment must be made
The administrative court assesses that Evelina is part of the so-called circle of persons 3. The group entitled to the greatest possible support according to LSS. The verdict means that the social welfare board in Piteå municipality now needs to make a new assessment of Evelina’s case.
– Our hope is that it will now be much better. It’s still a long way back to full support, but this is really a step in the right direction, says Evelina’s mother Ingela Lindberg.
In the Administrative Court, the municipality of Piteå argued that Evelina Lindberg’s need for support is not extensive and that she can handle many tasks at home on her own. But there they now get homework.
“Feels completely unimaginable”
The mother Ingela Lindberg says that Evelina is very happy today and that she said that she was always sure that the municipality made an incorrect assessment.
– We are very happy. It feels completely unimaginable that we now finally have someone who decides who says that Evelina has the right to the support she needs. Now we hope that Piteå Municipality will not appeal the decision and that we will finally have peace and quiet, says Ingela Lindberg.