At Eikholt, the user is at the centre. We believe that the best services are offered and developed when the people who actually use them help to shape them. Find out more about user involvement at Eikholt here.
User representatives on the board
The board is Eikholt's supreme body. You can see how Eikholt is organised and who sits on the board here: Organisation - Eikholt
Two of the board members are user representatives. User representatives on the board must be "users of Eikholt's services and/or represent the user groups" (Article 7 of the Articles of Association). User representatives do not have to be members of an organisation to be elected to the board.
The Nomination Committee proposes candidates
It is the nomination committee which prepares and proposes candidates for the Board. The Nomination Committee is appointed by the Board for a period of two years.
The nomination committee consists of three members. One member is a user representative. The nomination committee contacts various groups, including user organisations, to obtain proposals for candidates. A board member can serve a maximum of two board terms, totalling 8 years. (Article 8 of the Articles of Association)
Experience consultants in activities at Eikholt
Eikholt's group courses, webinars and conferences are attended by experience consultants.
Experience consultants are people with combined visual and hearing impairments who share their knowledge and experience. They participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the activities.
It is the responsible counsellor at Eikholt who contacts the experience consultants.
User involvement in research projects and development work (R&D)
In Eikholt's strategy work, it has been decided that all research and development (R&D) activities at Eikholt should contribute to achieving Eikholt's overall goals:
"Eikholt will help people with combined visual and hearing impairment/deafblindness experience the greatest possible degree of independence and participation in all areas of society." The goal is underpinned by The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which has been ratified by Norway.
In addition to building on existing knowledge, R&D projects at Eikholt must be based on the experiences, perceptions and needs of the target group. We facilitate user participation in all phases of the projects: Planning, implementation and dissemination. User involvement in R&D projects helps to improve quality and ensure target group relevance.
Eikholt offers in 2025 Group course on User involvement in project work. The course is developed in collaboration between users of Eikholt and employees, who also lead the course.
Evaluation of courses and stays
Everyone who receives a course from Eikholt is given the opportunity to evaluate the course and their stay. Time is set aside in the course programme for this, as it is of great value for the development of courses and services. Those who wish to do so can also evaluate in peace and quiet at home.
User surveys
Since 2020, user surveys have been conducted every other year. The user survey provides Eikholt with valuable feedback on what course participants think about the quality of our services and the information we provide. A goal of the survey is also to highlight what we can improve.
The user survey is anonymous and conducted by B2S Research on behalf of Eikholt. Only employees of B2S Research process the responses from the survey. Eikholt receives a report from B2S Research that is used in the development work.
Contact meetings with user organisations
Eikholt has regular contact meetings with the user organisations for persons with combined visual and hearing impairment/deafblindness. At these meetings, various issues of importance to the organisations, Eikholt and people with deafblindness in general are discussed.
The contact meetings will contribute to co-operation so that users' needs, challenges and experiences are followed up through user-friendly and accessible services. Examples of current issues are information exchange, needs and wishes for courses and services, rights issues and influencing authorities in political and administrative processes.
User organisations
There are three registered organisations for people with combined visual and hearing impairment/deafblindness. You can read about them here:
Norwegian Association of the Deafblind (FNDB)
FNDB was founded on 13 October 1957.
FNDB has seven contact clubs for deafblind people in Norway. This is part of the organisation's welfare services to its members, and is a social meeting place for enjoyment and well-being at the local and regional level. The contact clubs organise social gatherings and excursions for their members.
FNDB's editorial team produces the daily newspaper "Punktnytt" and "Døvblindes ukeblad". Both are published in Braille, large print and slow read on Daisy CD.
FNDB is part of the Nordic Committee of Deafblind People (DBNSK), an organisation that works on issues related to people with deafblindness in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
(Source : www.fndb.no)
Would you like to get in touch with FNDB?
Email: fndb@fndb.no
Telephone: 22 93 33 50
Website: www.fndb.no
National Association for the Combined Visually and Hearing Impaired/Deafblind (LSHDB)
LSHDB was established in 1997.
LSHDB works to promote the rights of deafblind people, participation in society on an equal footing with others, and to create favourable social environments and activities for people with combined visual and hearing impairments/deafblind people.
LSHDB can help you with information about deafblindness, contact to partners, questions regarding rights for deafblind people, and information about networks near you.
Under the auspices of the LSHDB, the SynHør magazine is published six times a year for members and supporting members. The magazine is also available in audio, by e-mail and in braille by contacting FNDB.
Would you like to get in touch with LSHDB?
Email: kontor@lshdb.no
Telephone: 22 41 34 24
Website: www.lshdb.no
Life with combined sensory loss (LMKST)
LMKST was founded in October 2024.
LMKST wants to highlight the experiences, challenges and lessons learnt from living with sensory loss, as well as reach out to parents who have children with sensory loss.
The aim is to give the individual a larger network, a place to share experiences, promote deafblindness in Norway and establish co-operation with relevant places.
LMKST has its own Facebook page and a SnapChat group. Every week, a newspaper is published summarising topics that have been raised in the SnapChat group.
Here you will find Facebook group for LMKST
You can find the group at SnapChat
Read more?
Here you can read about Eikholt's mission: Our missions - Eikholt
Here you can read about Eikholt as an organisation
Here you can get to know the history of Eikholt: Eikholt's history - Eikholt
Read about results from User survey in 2025
Do you have any questions?
Get in touch with us! You can find our contact details here: Contact us