Ensuring representation of young learners with special educational needs

About:

Statped is a national-level special needs education support service for municipalities and county municipalities. Statped has about 100 representatives from different interest organisations divided into different ‘user’ involvement groups. The organisation aims to ensure the voices of its ‘users’ are heard across system levels. Statped’s users are children, young people and adults with special educational needs. Parents and guardians are also considered users and are involved in the organisation.

Statped has established a Youth Panel to represent the voice of children and young people in its work. The voices of children and young people with additional learning needs are important in Statped’s service development and decision-making processes. The Statped Youth Panel covers broad representation in regard to different disabilities, geography and cultures.

Outcomes:

The Youth Panel was involved in Statped’s process to develop digital methods. The Panel also takes part in conferences to spread information about user needs to professionals in the education system, such as teachers and school leaders.

Key element(s) of the VIA Framework:

The establishment of the Statped Youth Panel emphasises SPACE and AUDIENCE. The organisation recognised and acted on a need to further involve and listen to the voices of children and young people. After it was set up, the Youth Panel was able to apply its unique knowledge and perspectives to contribute to the process of developing the organisation’s digital approach.

Learn more about Statped (in Norwegian)