Young people, especially those with disabilities, are not often able to raise issues with decision-makers. In turn decision-makers do not always know how to find out what young people need. In 2004 some people at Fyrisgården youth centre decided to do something about this by setting up a forum.

The dialogforum brings together young people with politicians and other decision makers so that the young people can raise issues that they feel are important. The young people are divided into two groups – the young people with “invisible disabilities” like ADHD have their meetings during the evening. Those with more obvious disabilities come to the meetings with their school during the day. There is also a forum for young people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment.

Initially the forum was started without any funding, but now the local municipality provides the funding. Decision makers have come to value the forum. “I like the fact that we get to hear about young people’s everyday thoughts and worries - directly from the youngsters themselves.”

Issues raised have included the wages of those working in the “daily activities programme”, the name used for schools for those with special needs, sports provision for young people with learning disabilities and the need for a place to legally paint grafitti.  

Since being discussed at the dialogforum the Swedish Parliament and Government are talking about the term used to describe schools for disabled people. The question about wages is being looked at by the local authorities and more and more sports clubs are starting special groups.

“This is great … we get to practice how to speak our mind and we get to sit eye to eye with people who decided stuff!” Young Person from dialogforum.