‘In the Next Moment I Answer, it is Not Possible.’ Professionals’ Experiences from Transition Planning for Young People

Abstract

In this article, we explore dilemmas professionals experience in the planning for the transition to adulthood for young people with disabilities. Five group interviews with a total of 16 professionals working in the habilitation services were conducted. They experienced structural shortcomings and a lack of resources to support the aspirations of the young people with disabilities. Much effort was directed towards giving young people a 'realistic' understanding of what they can expect from the public services within the limits of their abilities. We argue that this leaves little room for addressing the hopes and aspirations of young people with disabilities for the future. This is crucial for planning for a life as an active citizen. These shortcomings may restrict young people with disabilities opportunities in developing a strong self and question if they really matter as a worthy citizen.

Negotiating the Administrative Burden: The Navigation of Welfare Services by Parents with Disabled Children

“…Coordinators are often stretched between high demands and limited resources, and struggle to interpret their roles (Tveit & Cameron 2013;Albertini Früh et al 2023). Bekken et al (2021) found that a lack of time and resources requires other professionals in habilitation services to provide users with a 'realistic' understanding of what users can expect from public services. Nevertheless, there is limited knowledge of how the coordinator arrangement is implemented and experienced by parents of disabled children and coordinators in Norway.…”