New project approved: “Easier to make it right”
Together with the Swedish association for families with children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have language disorders, we will develop information aimed directly at young neurodiverse sign language users.
The transition from elementary school to high school and on into adulthood involves major changes for this target group. After a safe and familiar environment, they suddenly have to live on their own, find work, and take responsibility for their finances and everyday life. This can be both difficult and a little scary. Especially since information and support are rarely available in sign language.
Therefore, the Swedish association DHB and the Funka Foundation, together with other stakeholders, will gather experiences and knowledge from neurodivergent deaf/hard of hearing adults who have found themselves in a similar situation. We will also collaborate with relatives and professionals, and gather relevant information from authorities and municipalities.
The material will be processed and designed so that it can be presented in a simple and accessible digital format, in Swedish sign language and easy to read, combined with images and illustrations. Young people in the target group will participate actively throughout the project to ensure that the information produced is relevant and meets their needs.
It feels both exciting and very valuable for us to be able to contribute to this important project,” says Susanna Laurin, Managing Director of the Funka Foundation. Young people with multiple disabilities rarely receive the support they are entitled to.
The idea of the project comes from a specific part of DHB which focuses on children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a language disorder and also have an additional disability.
In addition to the fact that information from public suthorities can be complicated and presented in an inaccessible way, it is often difficult to get good advice across to young people. The idea behind the project is that young people are more likely to take in information from people who have experienced similar situations than from well-meaning parents and school staff.
The overall goal of the project is to offer the target group, young neurodivergent sign language users, tools that enable them to live as independently as possible.
The project is funded by the Swedish Inheritance Fund and is carried out in Sweden during three years, starting February 2026.
Would you like to know more?
Do reach out to Susanna Laurin if you are interested in this project: