A Danish family from Borbjerg near Holstebro faces losing their daughter's specialized stroller after local authorities decided to reassess their case. The family fears they might permanently lose what they describe as their most important mobility aid.
Eleven-year-old Sarah Gyldendorf Jensen has relied on her custom-built stroller since 2019. The stroller serves as her safe space and enables her to participate in daily life despite her 14 medical diagnoses. The specialized equipment shields Sarah from light and sound that could trigger reactive behavior while providing proper support for her size.
The conflict began when the stroller was sent for servicing on October 9 to remove a recently installed motor. The motor had been added earlier this year to help Sarah's mother push the heavy equipment but proved unsuccessful. Instead of returning the stroller after service, Holstebro Municipality notified the family they were reopening their case for reassessment.
Sarah's mother, Susan Gyldendorf Brusen, expressed her frustration about the situation. "I am furious and sad. I could not concentrate on anything for the rest of the day when I got the message," she said. "It limits us extremely that we don't have it. Sarah can maybe walk 200 meters by herself, so we cannot get around without it."
The family now relies solely on their car for transportation, which Susan says doesn't provide the same experiences for her daughter. "You cannot go everywhere by car, and it doesn't give her the same experiences. She cannot navigate public spaces at all without that stroller."
Municipal officials provided a different perspective. Bibi Mundbjerg, head of assistive devices for Holstebro Municipality, explained the stroller remained at the service depot because it needed preparation work. "It needed to be made ready, and the motor needed to be removed, so we are going through it while we have it," she stated. "The depot has not been able to prepare it yet."
Mundbjerg confirmed municipalities can reassess cases when circumstances change but declined to specify what had changed in this situation. She expects the family will receive a decision next week regarding the stroller's return.
This situation highlights a common challenge in Denmark's welfare system where municipalities periodically reassess assistive device allocations. While intended to ensure proper use of public resources, these reassessments can create uncertainty for families relying on specialized equipment.
The case also raises questions about timing and communication between Danish municipalities and residents. Susan argues the council could have conducted the reassessment while the family retained the stroller, as she believes the law allows. Correspondence seen by local media appears to support her claim that the council explicitly linked the stroller's retention to the ongoing case review.
For international readers, this story illustrates how Denmark's much-admired welfare system sometimes creates bureaucratic hurdles for the very people it aims to support. The balance between fiscal responsibility and citizen support remains an ongoing challenge across Nordic countries, where high taxes fund comprehensive social services but sometimes come with complex administrative processes.
The family now waits for next week's decision, hoping to regain the mobility and independence the specialized stroller provides for their daughter's daily life.