Norwegian version of this page

Marte Oppedal Vale

Doctoral Research Fellow - Department of Special Needs Education

Email m.o.vale@isp.uio.no

Username

Visiting address Sem Sælands vei 7 Helga Engs hus 0371 Oslo

Postal address Postboks 1140 Blindern 0318 Oslo

Other affiliations Faculty of Educational Sciences (Student)

Press photo Download business card

Academic Interests

Disability, chronically illness
Identity
Marginalization
Work inclusion
IA agreement

Main supervisor:

Luca Tateo, Department of Special Needs Education (UiO)

Co-supervisor:

Halvor Hanish, AFI, Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)

Background

2022- Doctoral Research Fellow - Department of Special Needs Education
2014- 2022 Senior Political Adviser. The Norwegian Association of the Hard of Hearing (HLF)
2009- 2014 Adviser. The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud
2008- 2009 Higher Executive Officer. Ministry of Children and Equality
2006– 2007 Higher Executive Officer. Ministry of Labor and Social Inclusion
2005- 2006 Organizational Executive Officer. Norwegian Diabetes Association

Education

2002-10.2004 Cand.Polit (Master) Master of Science in Political Science. Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
1998 - 2002 Cand.Mag (Bachelor) Social Science (Political Science and Applied Linguistics). Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

Vale, Marte Oppedal & Hanisch, Halvor Melbye (2025). How Is the Inclusion of People with Disabilities at Work Conceptualized in Norway’s Inclusive Working Life (IA) Agreement? Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research. ISSN 1501-7419. 27(1), p. 648–663. doi: 10.16993/sjdr.1268. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This article examines how work inclusion for persons with disabilities is conceptualized in Norwegian employment policy, focusing on the Inclusive Working Life (IA) Agreement and its alignment with Article 27 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Through a document analysis of six IA Agreement versions, we trace its evolution from an inclusion-oriented approach to a narrower focus on internal labor market issues, particularly sick leave. We interpret this as a shift from civic values, such as rights and societal participation, toward industrial values emphasizing productivity and efficiency. This reflects a broader paradox in Norwegian inclusion policy: ambitious rhetoric paired with limited practical outcomes. We argue that this paradox is not incidental but rooted in normative compromises embedded in Norway’s social policies and in the Nordic welfare model more generally.
Halbach, Till & Vale, Marte Oppedal (2022). Modern Communication Technology, Assistive Technology, and Hearing Impairment: How Do They Go Together? ICCHP-AAATE 2022 Open Access Compendium "Assistive Technology, Accessibility and (e)Inclusion" Part I. Association ICCHP. ISSN 9783950499780. doi: 10.35011/icchp-aaate22-p1-20. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This work sheds light on the experiences of hearing-impaired individuals with communication and assistive technology nowadays, primarily for the contact with public entities, including the health sector. We used an online survey and 12 in-depth interviews to collect statistics and narratives and analyzed the answers. Our findings draw a picture of technology as an enabler and life-saver with a number of weaknesses, both technical and non-technical. Areas of improvement include the universal design of technical solutions, user journeys for users of assistive technology, technical installation and setup of public and private infrastructure, instructional and educational training, and others.

View all works in NVA

Vale, Marte Oppedal (2026). The emotional Politics of Access in Academia. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Digital presentation on the emotional politics of access and disability in academia, presented at the Leeds Disability Studies Conference 2026.
Vale, Marte Oppedal (2026). Feeling Inclusion in Doctoral Education: Affective Norms and the Emotional Politics of Access. Full text in Research Archive
Vale, Marte Oppedal (2026). NTL Mangfoldsseminar 2026. doi: https:/youtu.be/f_-pK7hs2ic?t=3427. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Tema: Inkludering, psykisk helse og funksjonsnedsettelser i arbeidslivet. Fokusområder: Hvordan sikre at alle finner sin plass, rettigheter, fersk forskning og nye krav til psykososialt arbeidsmiljø (gjeldende fra 1. januar 2026). Arrangementstype: Et årlig seminar for tillitsvalgte og medlemmer. Seminaret ble også strømmet direkte, og tematikken satte søkelys på om det faktisk er plass til alle i arbeidslivet.
Vale, Marte Oppedal (2025). Frokostseminar - paneldebatt. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Tjenester til døve og hørselshemmede. Hvordan sikre at informasjon om tjenester når frem. Tjenester om arbeidsinkludering.
Vale, Marte Oppedal (2025). Arbeidsliv: De som står utenfor, har ingen til å snakke for seg innenfor. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Funksjonshemmede som står utenfor arbeidslivet sitter ikke nederst ved forhandlingsbordet. De sitter ikke der i det hele tatt.
Vale, Marte Oppedal (2024). IA-avtalen – inkludering av hvem? Full text in Research Archive
Grue, Jan; Finnvold, Jon Erik; Dokken, Therese; Hanisch, Halvor Melbye; Tateo, Luca & Vale, Marte Oppedal [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Vi har forsket på funksjonshemning. Resultatene er lite flatterende for Norge. Full text in Research Archive
Vale, Marte Oppedal (2023). The aim of an inclusive work life- How has the IA-agreement been "a tool" to include or not include disabled and chronically ill people (PwD)? Full text in Research Archive