Post by BenesMom on Sept 5, 2004 13:03:53 GMT -5
I really don't know where to start, so I'll just start at how our life is today, and go from there. If you have any questions, feel free to bombard me with them, I just love to talk about Bene! ;D
In Norway all services such as special education, daycare, schools, health care etc are state- or county provided. The idea is that everyone in our country will get the same good care, no matter what income they might have. The theory is great, but Norway still has some miles to go down that road before things are really good.
'Most of you might be aware that Norway is actually one of the richest countries to live in World Wide, and comes out usually in the top 5 countries in any UN survey concerning how well anyone's doing. I'm not saying this to brag, just giving everyone an idea of what Norway's like.
However, Norway still has some miles to go when it comes to DS, and DH and I have enthusiastically thrown ouselves into the world of educating society on DS.
Bene goes to kindergarten where she receives special ed, OT, PT and ST from 2 different ladies who are very talented, educated and have that drive that you need to work with these beautiful children. So far, so good. The catch is, ideally the county provides all of this. This is very complicated due to the complexity of the laws regulating this thing. WHat it comes down to, is that every single year, we need to get ourself a lawyer and file charges against the county for negligance to the laws concerning this area, and therefor depriving Bene of her rights by law. Every year we win. So far. But it takes its toll on us, because these "fights" last for usually 7 or 8 months EVERY year, starting in Jan.
Lucky for us, we found a lawyer who's not only a bulldog when it comes to fighting cases, he also has a heart the size of a basket ball and a picture of Bene on his desk at work. ;D She just smiled at him, won him over and made herself a companion for the rest of his professional career! LOL
Other than that, I believe our lives are very similar to yours: everyday life is about getting the kids up and ready for school and daycare, going to work, doing all the million things that need to get done and pay taxes.
On to some facts about Norway. There are 4,5 million Norwegians. If we count all the people in the US having their blood from a Norwegian, there'd probably be a billion! LOL A lot of my people migrated in the late 1800s and early 1900s to the US. Actually almost 1 million.
Norway is very scenic; if any of you like Washington State, I've been told that it's a lot like it. High mountains, fjords, glaciers. Small towns and villages, and about 10 cities of more than 50,000.
We live in a small town of around 400 people. Bene is the only person with DS and nobody can remember anyone who's ever lived here having DS. I say it's about time this town was blessed with a person like her!
Ok, this is long. I'll stop and go back to my house work before my mother arrives and wonders if all hell broke lose here!
Any questions are welcome!!!
In Norway all services such as special education, daycare, schools, health care etc are state- or county provided. The idea is that everyone in our country will get the same good care, no matter what income they might have. The theory is great, but Norway still has some miles to go down that road before things are really good.
'Most of you might be aware that Norway is actually one of the richest countries to live in World Wide, and comes out usually in the top 5 countries in any UN survey concerning how well anyone's doing. I'm not saying this to brag, just giving everyone an idea of what Norway's like.
However, Norway still has some miles to go when it comes to DS, and DH and I have enthusiastically thrown ouselves into the world of educating society on DS.
Bene goes to kindergarten where she receives special ed, OT, PT and ST from 2 different ladies who are very talented, educated and have that drive that you need to work with these beautiful children. So far, so good. The catch is, ideally the county provides all of this. This is very complicated due to the complexity of the laws regulating this thing. WHat it comes down to, is that every single year, we need to get ourself a lawyer and file charges against the county for negligance to the laws concerning this area, and therefor depriving Bene of her rights by law. Every year we win. So far. But it takes its toll on us, because these "fights" last for usually 7 or 8 months EVERY year, starting in Jan.
Lucky for us, we found a lawyer who's not only a bulldog when it comes to fighting cases, he also has a heart the size of a basket ball and a picture of Bene on his desk at work. ;D She just smiled at him, won him over and made herself a companion for the rest of his professional career! LOL
Other than that, I believe our lives are very similar to yours: everyday life is about getting the kids up and ready for school and daycare, going to work, doing all the million things that need to get done and pay taxes.
On to some facts about Norway. There are 4,5 million Norwegians. If we count all the people in the US having their blood from a Norwegian, there'd probably be a billion! LOL A lot of my people migrated in the late 1800s and early 1900s to the US. Actually almost 1 million.
Norway is very scenic; if any of you like Washington State, I've been told that it's a lot like it. High mountains, fjords, glaciers. Small towns and villages, and about 10 cities of more than 50,000.
We live in a small town of around 400 people. Bene is the only person with DS and nobody can remember anyone who's ever lived here having DS. I say it's about time this town was blessed with a person like her!
Ok, this is long. I'll stop and go back to my house work before my mother arrives and wonders if all hell broke lose here!
Any questions are welcome!!!
