Telecom and ICT applications are more or less integrated in the general social and welfare policy programmes and statements. In most instances, ICT is viewed as an extension of traditional means of assistance and an integrated part of the welfare system.
Access to infrastructures and information via ICT is not much of an issue since most citizens seem to content in that respect. The focus is more on how to reach the elderly, the disabled, and other socially defined groups with educational efforts in order to get them to use ICT. From this point of view, the issue is defined as a quality of life issue and democratic issue.
The use of ICT as a means to remain active in working life is likewise looked upon as something that potentially enhances a person's quality of life. The Swedish government has through its ministries allocated financial resources supporting enterprises employing disabled persons. A broad discussion among the public agencies has been going on for quite some time on how to coordinate the various units by means of ICT. Attempts and initiatives of this sort have so far been most distinct with regard to health and care.
The basic outline as well as the priorities for implementing ICL is basically found in An Information Society for All. This guiding document is updated consecutively on a yearly basis where the prioritised areas are evaluated and more precisely specified. In a sense this is an organic document which mirrors the concretisation of the intentions of the decided policies. The matters of funding and financing are adjusted accordingly, but was is law and regulation, and what is practice and recommendation is not always easy to find out. However, the over all objectives and the general course regarding an all inclusive information society are clear and far from controversy.
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