2023-11-152023/24:SoU2 · p.2SoUHealth & social services
Future design of the law
Future design of the guide dog law: age limit and requirements for deafblind users
What's at stake: The decision affects which younger applicants and deafblind people with residual vision can be considered for a guide dog, and whether the rules change immediately or only after the planned review is complete.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the law's age limit for being granted a guide dog, and the requirement of total absence of guiding vision for deafblind applicants, should be relaxed now, or whether changes should wait for an announced agency review.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee welcomes the government's plan to have an agency analyse the current age limit and the effects of lowering it, but otherwise considers that the requirement of total absence of guiding vision should continue to apply for deafblind applicants to be granted a guide dog, and therefore rejects the motions calling for further action at this stage.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 3 (MP)
The reservation (MP) wants an investigation into whether a specialized type of training could work for deafblind people's needs even when they have residual vision, and argues that some people under 18 are mature enough to be responsible for a guide dog; the announced age-limit review should also cover exceptions for good cause or an alternative suitability assessment.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 3 by MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Abstain 0/0/20/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | Yes 94/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/13/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/20/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 14/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the following motions 2022/23:2399 by Maj Karlsson et al. (V) demand 2, 2022/23:2400 by Christofer Bergenblock et al. (C) demand 2, and 2022/23:2401 by Ulrika Westerlund et al. (MP) demands 5 and 6.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:2399 av Maj Karlsson m.fl. (V) yrkande 2, 2022/23:2400 av Christofer Bergenblock m.fl. (C) yrkande 2 och 2022/23:2401 av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 5 och 6.
Riksdag decision: It becomes the state's responsibility to provide guide dogs to persons with visual impairment. The responsibility for guide dog activities is transferred from the Swedish National Federation of Visually Impaired to the administrative authority determined by the government. The new regulations aim to transfer the exercise of administrative authority regarding the right to dispose of a guide dog from the Swedish National Federation of Visually Impaired to an administrative authority. It is also an advantage that the same authority that reviews applications and assigns guide dogs is responsible for information, procurement of guide dog equipment, training, and veterinary care. A person granted a guide dog shall be assigned a guide dog within a reasonable time, a person assigned a guide dog shall undergo continuous training with the dog, and shall be responsible for the dog receiving the care needed while the dog is at their disposal. The Riksdag approved the government's proposal. The new regulations come into effect on April 1, 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to investigate the possibility for deafblind persons to use guide dogs and lower the age requirement for guide dog access. (MP) — Reservation 3
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan establishes that everyone should have the right to be part of society, that all parts of society should be made accessible and that children with disability should receive the support they need.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that everyone should have the right to be part of society, that all parts of society should be made accessible and that children with disability should receive the support they need. To investigate adapted training for deafblind people with residual vision and exceptions or suitability assessment instead of a strict age limit expands exactly that participation. The plan thus also addresses the committee's substantive reasons for maintaining today's requirements.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att alla ska ha rätten att vara delaktiga i samhället, att alla delar av samhället ska göras tillgängliga och att barn med normbrytande funktionalitet ska få det stöd de behöver. Att utreda anpassad träning för dövblinda med kvarvarande synrester och undantag eller lämplighetsprövning i stället för en strikt åldersgräns vidgar just den delaktigheten. Planen talar därmed också till utskottets sakliga skäl att behålla dagens krav.
- right to participationdecisive»Alla människor ska ha rätten att vara delaktiga i samhället, bli bemötta« (party programme ↗)“All people should have the right to be part of society, be treated”
- full accessibility»delar av samhället göras tillgängligt« (party programme ↗)“parts of society made accessible”
- guaranteed support for disability»På samma sätt ska du som lever med funktionsnedsättning kunna lita på att du får det stöd du behöver, och på att din rätt att delta i samhället på det sätt du vill inte ständigt ifrågasätts och försvåras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In the same way, you who live with disability can rely on getting the support you need, and on your right to participate in society in the way you want is not constantly questioned and made difficult.”
- support for children with disability»Barn med normbrytande funktionalitet ska ha det stöd« (party programme ↗)“Children with disability should have the support”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto promises more individually designed measures so that persons with disabilities can live their lives as others.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises more individually designed measures so that persons with disabilities can live their lives as others. The counter-proposal's requirement for adapted training for deaf-blind people with residual vision, individual suitability assessment and exemption from age limits is precisely such individualisation instead of formula solutions. The party programme's requirement for equal opportunity to participation regardless of functional capacity points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar mer individuellt utformade insatser så att personer med funktionsnedsättning kan leva sitt liv som andra. Motförslagets krav på anpassad träning för dövblinda med synrester, individuell lämplighetsprövning och undantag från åldersgränsen är just en sådan individualisering i stället för schablonregler. Partiprogrammets krav på lika möjlighet till delaktighet oavsett funktionsförmåga pekar i samma riktning.
- individually designed measuresdecisive»Vi vill se mer individuellt utformade insatser för att skapa jobb eller utbildning för personer med funktionsnedsättningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to see more individually designed measures to create jobs or education for persons with disabilities.”
- full freedom of movement regardless of functional capacity»funktionsförmåga, har rätt till arbete, eget boende, full rörelsefrihet och ett aktivt liv« (party programme ↗)“functional capacity, have the right to work, independent housing, full freedom of movement and an active life”
- equal opportunity to participation»Vi socialdemokrater vill att alla ska ha lika förutsättningar och lika möjlighet till delaktighet« (party programme ↗)“We social democrats want everyone to have equal preconditions and equal opportunity to participation”
- needs-based solutions»Människor är olika, med olika behov och förutsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“People are different, with different needs and preconditions.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto promises improved support for people with disabilities and rare diagnoses regardless of where in the country they live, and the party programme sees inaccessibility in society as the real obstacle.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises improved support for people with disabilities and rare diagnoses regardless of where in the country they live, and the party programme sees inaccessibility in society as the real obstacle. Investigating training adapted for deafblind people with residual vision and exceptions or suitability review instead of an absolute age limit is such an accessibility improvement. The plan does not mention guide dogs, so the stance is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar förbättrat stöd för personer med funktionsnedsättning och sällsynta diagnoser oavsett var i landet man bor, och partiprogrammet ser otillgängligheten i samhället som det verkliga hindret. Att utreda träning anpassad för dövblinda med synrester och undantag eller lämplighetsprövning i stället för en absolut åldersgräns är en sådan tillgänglighetsförbättring. Planen nämner inte ledarhundar, så ställningstagandet härleds.
- better support for disabilitiesdecisive»förbättra stödet för personer med funktionsnedsättning och sällsynta diagnoser oavsett var du bor i landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“improve support for people with disabilities and rare diagnoses regardless of where you live in the country.”
- inaccessibility is the obstacle»Det är otillgängligheten i samhället som« (party programme ↗)“It is the inaccessibility in society that”
- equal rights and opportunities»Alla människor, oavsett funktionsnedsättning eller« (party programme ↗)“All people, regardless of disability or”
- aids as a right»att hjälpmedel ska ingå i högkostnadsskyddet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that aids shall be included in high-cost protection.”
The plan's decisive commitment is full accessibility for persons with disability and that the individual should receive the support needed, with welfare adapted to the individual's needs rather than to standard limits.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive commitment is full accessibility for persons with disability and that the individual should receive the support needed, with welfare adapted to the individual's needs rather than to standard limits. That bears the requirement that training adapted for deafblind with remaining vision is investigated and that the age limit can be waived after individual appropriateness review. The plan is, however, silent on guide dogs specifically, which is why the assessment rests on derivation.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är full tillgänglighet för personer med funktionsnedsättning och att den enskilde ska få det stöd som behövs, med välfärden anpassad till individens behov snarare än till schablongränser. Det bär kravet att träning anpassad för dövblinda med kvarvarande synrester utreds och att åldersgränsen kan frångås efter individuell lämplighetsprövning. Planen är dock tyst om just ledarhundar, varför bedömningen vilar på härledning.
- full accessibilitydecisive»Tillgängligheten är avgörande för människor med olika funktionsnedsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“Accessibility is decisive for people with various disabilities.”
- support according to need»Du som har en funktionsnedsättning ska få det stöd du behöver, och staten ska ta ett större ansvar för att LSS fungerar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“You who have a disability should receive the support you need, and the state should take greater responsibility for making LSS work.”
- welfare according to individual needs»Människors rätt till valfrihet är det som ska trygga att den offentligt finansierade välfärden anpassas till individens behov.« (party programme ↗)“People's right to choice is what should ensure that publicly financed welfare is adapted to the individual's needs.”
- influence over one's own life»Alla ska ha inflytande över sina egna liv också när det gäller välfärdstjänster.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone should have influence over their own lives also when it comes to welfare services.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme's starting point is that determining one's own life is a fundamental right and that the individual shall have control over their everyday life, with equivalent conditions for aids throughout the country.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme's starting point is that determining one's own life is a fundamental right and that the individual shall have control over their everyday life, with equivalent conditions for aids throughout the country. To investigate adapted training for deafblind persons with residual vision and exceptions or fitness assessment instead of an absolute age limit follows from this individual-focused review. The plan does not mention guide dogs, so the position is derived from the principles of disability policy.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammets utgångspunkt är att bestämma över sitt eget liv är en grundläggande rättighet och att den enskilde ska ha makt över sin vardag, med likvärdiga villkor för hjälpmedel i hela landet. Att utreda anpassad träning för dövblinda med kvarvarande synrester och undantag eller lämplighetsprövning i stället för en absolut åldersgräns följer av denna individinriktade prövning. Planen nämner inte ledarhundar, så ställningstagandet är härlett ur funktionshinderpolitikens principer.
- self-determination for people with disabilitiesdecisive»Att bestämma över sitt eget liv är en grundläggande rättighet.« (party programme ↗)“Determining one's own life is a fundamental right.”
- equivalent conditions for aids»Villkoren för hjälpmedel ska vara likvärdiga i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Conditions for aids shall be equivalent throughout the country.”
- individual assessment, not schemata»Den enskilde ska ha makt över sin vardag.« (party programme ↗)“The individual shall have control over their everyday life.”
- individuals' rights against the state»Vi vill även under nästa mandatperiod inrätta en LSS-inspektion som bevakar den enskildes rättigheter gentemot staten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We also wish to establish an LSS inspection during the next term that monitors individuals' rights against the state”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan demands that support and assistance be designed according to the individual's needs and that the degree of disability depends on society's ability to meet the person, which argues for training to be adapted to deaf-blind individuals with residual vision and for the age limit to be tested individually.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that support and assistance be designed according to the individual's needs and that the degree of disability depends on society's ability to meet the person, which argues for training to be adapted to deaf-blind individuals with residual vision and for the age limit to be tested individually. Legislation shall be used to facilitate the situation of persons with disabilities. The best interests of the child and the individual's self-determination strengthen the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att hjälpmedel och stöd utformas efter den enskildes behov och att graden av funktionsnedsättning beror på samhällets förmåga att möta personen, vilket talar för att träning anpassas till dövblinda med synrester och att åldersgränsen kan prövas individuellt. Lagstiftning ska användas för att underlätta för personer med funktionsnedsättning. Barnets bästa och den enskildes självbestämmande stärker slutsatsen.
- individual needs guidedecisive»Individuella behov ska vara utgångspunkten för« (party programme ↗)“Individual needs shall be the starting point for”
- legislation as a tool»Det är befogat att använda lagstiftningsinstrumentet för att underlätta situationen för personer« (party programme ↗)“It is justified to use the legislative instrument to facilitate the situation for persons”
- compensatory measures»Även insatser som är kompensatoriska« (party programme ↗)“Even measures that are compensatory”
- self-determination in disability»SJÄLVBESTÄMMANDE VID FUNKTIONSNEDSÄTTNING« (2022 manifesto ↗)“SELF-DETERMINATION IN DISABILITY”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address guide dogs or age limits for aids.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address guide dogs or age limits for aids. The closest principle is that people are different and that the right to choose one's path belongs to everyone, which speaks for individual suitability assessment and exceptions instead of absolute formula limits. Based on that principle, the counter-proposal's demands for investigation of adapted training and testing of exceptions to age limits are supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte ledarhundar eller åldersgränser för hjälpmedel. Närmast liggande princip är att människor är olika och att rätten att välja väg tillhör alla, vilket talar för individuell lämplighetsprövning och undantag i stället för absoluta schablongränser. Utifrån den principen stöds motförslagets krav på utredning av anpassad träning och prövning av undantag från åldersgränsen.
- individual conditionsdecisive»Att varje människa är unik innebär också att människor är olika.« (party programme ↗)“That each person is unique also means that people are different.”
- equal right to choose»Rätten att välja väg tillhör alla.« (party programme ↗)“The right to choose one's path belongs to everyone.”
- freedom of choice in welfare»För Moderaterna är valfrihet en central del av den svenska« (party programme ↗)“For the Moderate Party, freedom of choice is a central part of the Swedish”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's disability policy starts from the principle that anyone who needs support should receive it and that decision-making should become more flexible and individually adapted, because support needs look very different.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's disability policy starts from the principle that anyone who needs support should receive it and that decision-making should become more flexible and individually adapted, because support needs look very different. The counter-proposal's requirement for adapted training for deafblind people with residual vision and for exemption or suitability assessment rather than strict age limits responds to that principle. The plan does not specifically address guide dogs, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planens funktionsrättspolitik utgår från att den som har behov av stöd också ska få det och att beslutsfattandet ska bli mer flexibelt och individanpassat, eftersom stödbehoven ser mycket olika ut. Motförslagets krav på anpassad träning för dövblinda med synrester samt undantag eller lämplighetsprövning i stället för en strikt åldersgräns svarar mot den principen. Planen behandlar dock inte ledarhundar särskilt, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- individually adapted decisionsdecisive»Öka flexibiliteten och individanpassningen i beslutsfattandet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase flexibility and individual adaptation in decision-making”
- need determines support»Den som är i behov av stöd ska också få det.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Anyone who is in need of support should also receive it.”
- different individual support needs»Stödet som en person berättigad av LSS-lagen kan behöva ser väldigt olika ut.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The support a person entitled under the LSS law may need looks very different.”
- full participation in society»Medborgare som på grund av omständigheter bortom egen kontroll möter andra utmaningar i vardagen ska inte begränsas i sin tillgång till samhälls- eller arbetslivet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Citizens who due to circumstances beyond their control face other challenges in daily life should not be limited in their access to society or working life.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SoU2)
- Committee report full text (HB01SoU2)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:2399 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:122 Ledarhundar av Maj Karlsson m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:2400 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:122 Ledarhundar av Christofer Bergenblock m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:2401 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:122 Ledarhundar av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2022/23:122 — Ledarhundar
Source: The Swedish Parliament