The Association for Equal Opportunities was founded in 2017 by three mothers of children with special needs, who shared a feeling of powerlessness when it came to getting the right help for their children.

This marked the start of the association, whose purpose is to support and advise parents with a sick or disabled child and thus provide a helping hand to families.

"Our counseling services are the backbone of our association and are by far the most sought-after service we offer, but paradoxically, it has proven difficult to obtain support for this particular activity. That is why this donation from the Sol og Strand Foundation is Sol og Strand important for our ability to continue offering counseling, says the association's co-founder and secretariat manager, Pernille Baungaard.

Three times a week, members can seek advice and guidance from professionals in a closed Facebook group, which currently has around 600 members.

Through our online counseling service, parents have access to expert advice on legal issues and assistance under the Social Services Act, among other things. This could include assistive devices, lost earnings, respite care, and other compensatory benefits. They can also receive guidance and advice on issues such as sibling problems and cooperation with authorities, says Pernille Baungaard.

A lifeline for many parents

Since 2019, For Equal Terms has commissioned an annual survey of living conditions. The latest survey was published in February 2025, with 528 parents of children with special needs participating. The conclusion is that many families experience a pressured system, where a lack of guidance, changing case workers, and long processing times create stress and insecurity. As many as 54% of parents state that they are "either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the cooperation with the municipality."

Here, the option of online counseling is an invaluable aid, as evidenced by the feedback the association receives from parents. Many call it a lifeline and "virtually the only opportunity for impartial advice on one's actual rights. This is so important when we, as parents and project managers for our challenged children, also have to be mini case workers because the municipality is not fulfilling its responsibilities."

At the Sol og Strand Foundation Sol og Strand Margit and Kjeld are delighted to be able to ensure the continued operation of the advisory service.

– For Lige Vilkår plays an important role for parents, who often have a great need for advice regarding their children. We are happy to be able to contribute to even more people getting the help they need, says co-founder and board member Margit Andersen.