Sjónarhóll- Councelling center

- A new resource for parents of children with special needs in Iceland -

Background

Sjónarhólloperates on behalf of the following associations:

Landssamtökin Þroskahjálp, The national federation for the aid of people with learning disabilities.
Styrktarfélag lamaðra og fatlaðra, The benefit society of children with disabilities.
Umhyggja, The national society for the support of children with chronic illnesses.
ADHD samtökin, The national society for the aid of people with ADHD.

The Aim of Sjónarhóll’s work

To support parents and other relatives of children with special needs in their demanding role.
To give professional advice to the parents of chhildren with special needs about their rights and assist them in approaching these rights and making them work.
To organize cooperation between the social institutions working with the family f. ex. schools, primary health care, hospitals, social service and the municipalities controlling the relevant resources.
To inform, with the cooperation of relevant others, about children's special needs, rights, assistive technology and other issues of interest with the help of the media, organized courses, a specialized library and the home page www.sjonarholl.net.
To communicate the issues of the ongoing campaign fought for children with special needs for the improvement of their social situation and their living conditions in the society.

Financing

Sjónarhóllis a non governmental organization. The initial capitalization was collected with a landslide, media assisted, public collection in the autumn of 2003. Three years funding has been insured by the following:

The Icelandic Government

Sjónarhóll– Councelling Center started working in August 2004. Pursuing the dream of a fully developed councelling center for the parents of children with special needs, further financing is needed and sought.