Linnéa Björndahl comes from the Parasports Association where she leads Special Olympics Sweden, an organization that gives people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to train and compete in various sports. Together with Special Olympics, we have published the wonderful sports book Hey Special! We had a chat with Linnéa where she told us more about her work, the idea for the book and what intellectual disability means.
Hi Linnéa, who are you? Tell us a little about yourself and your job at Special Olympics and the Swedish Parasports Federation.
– My name is Linnéa Björndahl and I have the fantastic mission of leading Special Olympics Sweden within the Swedish Parasports Association. Special Olympics is a grassroots sport for people with intellectual disabilities, and we work both nationally and internationally to get more people moving and to create a more inclusive society. We arrange everything from sports days in adapted schools and family camps to competitions at both national and global levels.
What does intellectual disability mean?
– Intellectual disability means that a person has difficulty understanding, learning and processing information. It can affect everyday things such as planning, solving problems, communicating and making decisions. It is not that you cannot – but that you may need more time, clearer instructions or support in different ways.
Intellectual disability can be congenital or develop early in life, and it comes in different degrees – from mild to severe. The maximum age for diagnosis is 18 years. Many people with intellectual disability live active and meaningful lives, working, playing sports and participating in society just like everyone else, but with adaptations that make it easier to succeed.
The most important thing is to remember that a disability does not define a person – everyone has their strengths, dreams and unique ways of contributing to the world!
How did you come to want to make a children's book?
– We wanted to create a children's book to reach younger people and their families. Books have a great ability to open up important conversations in a safe home environment. We hope that the book can help families talk about why it is important for everyone to be involved on their own terms. We also want to create role models. The stories in the book are based on real events, and we believe that this makes it easier for children to identify with and be inspired.
Why did you choose to collaborate with OLIKA?
– OLIKA was a natural choice for us. You have extensive experience in creating inclusive and norm-breaking children's books that reflect diversity and equality. You share our vision of giving space to stories that are not always allowed to be seen, and together we were able to create something truly meaningful.
How do you hope/want the book to be used?
– We hope that the book will become a tool in schools, preschools and homes to talk about inclusion and differences in a positive and natural way. The goal is for children and adults to read the book together and discuss the importance of everyone being included and feeling accepted, regardless of their circumstances.
What was the most fun about the project? And what was the most difficult?
– The most fun part was watching the story grow. Getting proof that the small idea we had at the beginning could develop into such a fine book as the Heja Speciell book.
The hardest part was finding the right balance. We wanted to raise important issues while at the same time making the stories entertaining and accessible to children. It was a challenge to make the messages clear without making them seem overly obvious, but we are very happy with the result.
Thank you so much for letting us interview you. Linnea!💜
Here you will find the book Heja Speciell! + pictures to color and a fun tips walk with questions related to the book 💚
