A Dynamic Center for People with Disabilities in Hafnarfjörður

Enhanced services for people with disabilities in Hafnarfjörður

A new unified center for people with disabilities in Hafnarfjörður will open in the coming weeks. The facility will expand by 75 percent. Four departments will be combined under the Center for Work and Activity.

“This is a step forward in this area in Hafnarfjörður,” says Þórdís Rúriksdóttir, who will be the director of the new center. More space for everyone, better work facilities, and improved services for people with disabilities in Hafnarfjörður. The center serves around fifty individuals, with room for more.

Valdimar Víðisson, the mayor, is very proud of this change. “We are improving work facilities and strengthening operations. Alongside these changes, services are increasing, and we have further opportunities to enhance them in the future.”

The new Center for Work and Activity will be located at both Selhella 7 and Suðurgata 14. By combining all programs, the space will grow from 900 square meters to around 1600 square meters. The center is expected to reopen in the coming weeks with improved and updated facilities. The new setup will provide much better conditions for all groups at the center than before.

Four departments, each with its own focus, will be united in the center:

• Center for Environmental Monitoring – This group, currently at Suðurgata 14, will move to Selhella 7 into a new and modern facility. The main focus will be on various work projects.
• Center for Social and Physical Activities – This group, currently at Suðurgata, will move into new space within the same building. The focus will be on social and physical activities.
• Center for Sensory Stimulation and Center for Alternative Communication – These groups, currently at Bæjarhraun 2, will move to the first floor of Suðurgata 14 into larger spaces than they previously had. The Hæfingarstöðin at Bæjarhraun has provided professional and high-quality work for many years at an international standard. These groups will benefit from all the expertise in the building during the transition.
• Geitungar’s activities will be divided between the Center for Work Projects and the Center for Social and Physical Activities.

Efforts will be made to increase work projects for those in the work groups. The goal is also to reduce marginalization of people with disabilities by making them more visible in the general labor market.

Þórdís says municipal institutions are encouraged to participate. “Yes, this is a call to action. Even one project can achieve great results if everyone works together,” she says.

The matter was presented to the Hafnarfjörður Family Council on Wednesday, September 9. The council welcomed the clear progress. “This development contributes to improved quality of life, stronger social participation, and equal opportunities to use one’s skills and abilities,” the council stated in its meeting notes.