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Funding and governance of library and information services for visually impaired people: international case studies

Part2:Country studies

Denmark

Rights and attitudes

There is a partial right of access to all buildings and participation in cultural life, and a right to education at all levels. There is a right covering equal access to materials in an accessible format. Visually impaired and print impaired people have a right to use the library services provided by Danmarks Blindebibliotek (DBB), the Danish National Library for the Blind. These rights have been established both by primary legislation and by court decisions.

Sector responsibility/mainstreaming

One of the key ideas in Danish disability politics is that of sector responsibility or mainstreaming, which means that the authority, organisation or enterprise which is responsible for delivering services and products to the general population should take responsibility for ensuring that these goods and services are accessible and available for people with disabilities.

Visually impaired people do expect equal treatment on a political level, but not in practice. They expect access to reading, but not access to all information and literature in Denmark.

Many visually impaired people have a good network of family and friends who help them get access to reading materials as well as access to resources provided by the governmental system.