Affairs of the Disabled

The Minister of Social Affairs is in charge of supreme administration of the affairs of the disabled.

A special board counsels the ministry on the affairs of the disabled. The Board of Administration is appointed by the Minister for a period of four years at a time.

The Board is composed of five members: The Iceland Federation of the Disabled(IFH, Öryrkjabandalag Íslands), the National Federation for the Aid of the Mentally Disabled (NFAMH, Landssamtökin Þorskahjálp), and The Association of Local Authorites in Iceland (Samband íslenskra sveitarfélaga) appoint one member each. The Minister appoints two members without nomination, one of these to be the Chairman of the Boards.

The objective of the Act on the Affairs of the Disabled is to ensure to the disabled equality and living conditions comparable withs those of other citizens, and to provide them with conditions that enable them to lead a normal life.

In carrying out the objectives of the Act, the federate organizations of the disabled and their member assocations shall be guaranteed an influence on the defining policies and on decisions regarding the affairs of the disabled.

The State Diagnostic and Counselling Center

The State Diagnostic and Counselling Center is the main evaluation and habilitation center in Iceland for children and adolescents with various types of developmental disabilities. The Center was formally opened in January 1986. Prior to this, a center, operated by the State School for Mildly Retarded, served a similar function and was incorporated into the new center when it opened.

Regional Offices for the Affairs of the Disabled

Regional Offices for the Affairs of the Disabled operate according to the laws of the affairs of disabled in Iceland. The Offices offer people with disabilities various types of service, such as long term and short term residence, rehabilitation and vocation.