[nagdu] Introduction

[Nadja Öberg]

BS"D

Dear Marsha,

Thank you very much! I thought that I'll say some more things about myself, I'm 27 years old and I'm a student at the University of Dalarna. I'm studying Literature right now but I'm not sure how my Bachelor of Art will look in the end. I'm living at my twin sister's (and at mum's) right now but I hope that Hera and I'll get a flat in Stockholm this autumn.

It isn't bad to be visually impaired in Sweden generally; we don't need to pay our aids and such things but over 50 percent of us are un-employed. This is because of the general view of blind people here, people think that we can't do things and many of us think the same. It's really sad. I love the positive philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind which don't exist here.

The hardest thing for guide dog owners in Sweden is that discrimination against us and our dogs isn't discrimination according to the law. The allergic subjects have had a good lobby in Sweden which has resulted in a negative view on pets at public places. We've an agreement with the allergic subjects that we'll be able to use our dogs at public places but they don't keep to it and the public often take their side because of their good lobby and the non-existent discrimination law. When I go out I need to think where I'll go and if they'll allow us to enter, it's not funny and I'm the type of person who don't seek conflicts so I feel really limited. Many guide dog owners here have started to think of emigration because our politicians don't take this question seriously because of our number.

LeSholom,
Nadja from Sweden

Page web : http://www.nadjaoberg.com