“It is quite possible to be in the pontoon of Alþingi and give thunderous speeches and get headlines in the newspapers, but then you have to follow the will to accommodate these children who are being violated.”
This is what Úríður Sverrisdóttir, the mother of an autistic child, says, but she is Dagmála’s guest along with Vigdís Gunnarsdóttir and Stefanía Hulda Marteinsdóttir.
Together they founded the group Biðlisti.is, which fights for immediate action for autistic children on waiting lists for diagnosis, services and support.
“Lots of ears but no action”
In the episode, it is recalled how Vigdís tried to get a meeting with the Minister of Health, Álma Möller, but Vigdís had then insisted on fighting for changes to the framework agreement between the Icelandic Health Insurance and speech pathologists in the hope of a better effect on the waiting list.
As reported at the time, Vigdís was initially denied a meeting on the grounds that interviews were not granted to individuals. Biðlisti.is was subsequently founded and had a meeting with the minister, which Vigdís, Úríður and Stefanía say went well. However, much was said at the meeting that has not yet passed.
“We get quite a lot of ears but no action,” says Úríður in Dagmál.
Terrible situation
When asked what the status of the waiting lists is today, the trio say it is scary and point out that in November 2024, around 4,800 children were on the waiting list to receive services from a speech pathologist. That number is probably closer to 5,300 today.
There is also a three-year wait for a diagnosis at the counseling and diagnosis center, and they also point out that the Children’s Mental Health Center is now accepting requests for an autism diagnosis received in 2022.
In the episode, Vigdís, Úríður and Stefanía discuss the struggle, the government’s inaction, the consequences and much more. Excerpts from the episode can be seen in the player above. Subscribers can watch the full episode by clicking the link below.
Úríður Sverrisdóttir, Vigdís Gunnasdóttir and Stefanía Hulda Marteinsdóttir are guests of Dagmála. They fight for immediate action for children on waiting lists for diagnosis, services and support.
mbl.is/María Matthíasdóttir/Lósmynd/Colourbox
