Disability in Finland - yhteiskuntaorientaatio.fi
Disabled people have the right to equal participation in society
In Finland, disabled people have the same rights as others. Disabled people have the right to participate in society and decisions impacting them just as any other people. Legally, they also have the right to services which support their functioning, such as mobility services, personal assistance and interpreting, as well as different types of aids and equipment. It is society’s task to ensure that disabled people are able to participate in all activities in society.
A disability can be physical, intellectual or sensory, and a disability can affect a person’s full and equal participation in society. A person with an intellectual disability (kehitysvamma) may have difficulties with learning and understanding. A person with a physical disability often has restricted mobility. A visually impaired person has a disability which restricts vision, and a hearing-impaired person has a disability which restricts hearing.
Disabilities can be anything from mild to severe. Some people are born with a disability, and sometimes disabilities can be caused by an injury or accident. Disability can also be caused by a chronic illness which affects a person’s functioning in everyday life.
The functioning of a disabled person differ in one way or another from what society has deemed the norm. People with disabilities are not always able to fully participate in society at work, in education or in their free time. They may require aids or other types of support to manage matters. Disability exists in relation to societal expectations.
Equal participation of disabled people is not always realised in Finland, even though there are efforts to promote this in legislation, government, and organisations. Obstacles to equal participation include:
- Public transportation, which can be difficult to use for a person with a disability
- Workplaces, hobbies, parks, or educational spaces which may be difficult to access or use by a person with disabilities, or which are not safe for them
- Information which is not accessible and which may be difficult to find, read or understand
- Services or products which are difficult to use
- Discrimination, for example, in services and employment.
Equal participation of disabled people in Finland is supported through disability services, ensuring accessibility, supporting communication and decision-making as well as with affirmative action. Affirmative action means procedures which improve the status and circumstances for disabled people, for example, in education, student selection or recruitment.
Finland adheres to the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Finland is committed to the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is a legally binding international convention. The most central factor in the convention is the equality of disabled people with the rest of the population, as well as the opportunity to participate in all activities in society.
The UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities increases awareness of the rights of disabled people and defines that:
- Discrimination based on disability is forbidden.
- People with disabilities have the right to express themselves and participate in society and politics, for example, by voting or unionising.
- People with disabilities have the right to the support services and aids or equipment they require.
- People with disabilities have the right to receive education and the right to participate equally in working life without discrimination.
- People with disabilities have the right to personal mobility which is as independent as possible.
- In all matters relating to people with disabilities, people with disabilities are involved in planning and decision-making.
A disabled immigrant may be entitled to an array of services
The initial challenges of a disabled immigrant in Finland are often due to the fact that they do not know what services are available, where these can be applied for and how they are used. If they have a residence permit and a municipality of residence in Finland, they have the right to different types of services from the wellbeing services county and municipality, including disability services.
A disabled person who has recently moved to Finland can have a personal service plan concerning disability services prepared for them in their wellbeing services county. This plan lists their necessary support measures and services. Disabled immigrants have equal rights to integration and the procedures relating to it, such as learning the language, and finding suitable education and employment.
More information about disability services: Disabled persons (infofinland.fi)
When applying for citizenship, exceptions can be made for a disabled person’s language proficiency
If an immigrant applies for Finnish citizenship, they must prove proficiency in Finnish or Swedish. This language proficiency can be proven with a certificate from a Finnish or Swedish language test. Another option is to complete a degree in Finland in either language.
Sometimes exceptions can be made for language proficiency if a person with a disability or chronic illness cannot learn the language due to an illness, sensory impairment or speech impairment. In such a case, the person applying for citizenship must attach certificates from all language courses they have attended in Finland to their application. The application must also include a medical certificate stating that learning Finnish or Swedish is not possible for the applicant.
People with disabilities receive support for school and studies
Children with disabilities have the right to attend their local school and receive the support they need for school. This support may mean aids and equipment, a personal assistant or an interpreter. Education can be personalised, meaning that the disabled student can have individual learning goals which may differ from the curriculum. Some children with disabilities enter extended compulsory education. This means that the child starts school earlier at age 6. If necessary, the child will receive a special support decision describing the child’s need for support and the school’s support measures.
In Finland, students with disabilities can study at a regular educational institution with other students, for example, in integration training, civic orientation or in education leading to a degree. If necessary, they can also study in institutions providing special needs education (eritysoppilaitos), such as vocational special needs education college (ammatillinen erityisoppilaitos). The Finnish Folk High School for the Deaf (Kuurojen kansanopisto) organises integration training for the hearing impaired. The library for accessible literature Celia provides textbooks as audio books for comprehensive school, upper secondary education and higher education.
A student with a disability can receive support, help and reasonable adjustments to their studies. A student with a severe disability may have the right to a personal assistant who helps them with eating, taking notes and moving about in the educational institution. Students with hearing impairments or deafblindness have the right to sign language interpreting.
Workplaces can make adjustments for an employee with a disability
At workplaces, employers must make adjustments for employees with disabilities when needed. Reasonable adjustments mean that aids or equipment are obtained for the workplace or that work tasks or work times are reorganised. For example, a person with reduced working ability (osatyökykyinen) can work part time or with other arrangements. A person may only have some of their work ability in use due to an illness or disability, but they may still want to participate in working life.
Working spaces can be adjusted so that the employee with disabilities is able to access them and they are able to work in the space without issues. Adjustments can also be made to ensure that the employee receives all the information they need in an accessible way. The employer may be able to receive financial support for the salary costs of a partially disabled or disabled employee or for adjusting the working conditions.
When an employer decides to hire a person, this decision cannot be affected by the fact that the person with disabilities needs adjustments to be able to work at the workplace. If the employer does not make these adjustments at the workplace despite requests to do so, this refusal must be justified to the employee in writing. The employee can also contact the occupational safety and health authority if the matter is not advanced at the workplace.
Disability services support participation and make everyday life easier
Most health and social services in wellbeing services counties are meant for all residents in the wellbeing services county. Wellbeing services counties are also obligated to offer disability services for people with disabilities. Disability services support equal participation in society and make everyday life easier.
Some disability services are also available for people with chronic illnesses who have difficulties managing everyday activities or decreased working ability due to the illness. Chronic illnesses which may limit a person’s functioning or managing in working life include diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, rheumatism and osteoarthritis.
You must apply for disability services from your own wellbeing services county. For the application, you need a medical certificate – this can be obtained from the health station. An immigrant needs a diagnosis for the disability or illness from Finland in order to receive services and support meant for disabled people in Finland. Once you have a medical certificate, the social services in your own wellbeing services county can help with the disability service application and finding out which disability services are available to you.
Transportation service means a taxi
Transportation services can be used by disabled people who are unable to use public transportation or who need help when moving outside their home.
A personal assistant helps with everyday life, work or studies
You can receive personal assistance for everyday activities which you cannot manage independently due to a disability or illness. A personal assistant helps the disabled person, for example, with cooking, shopping, at work, moving about or with studying. The wellbeing services county pays the assistant’s salary.
Housing services support managing at home
Wellbeing services counties organise service housing (palveluasuminen) and supported housing (tuettu asuminen) for people with severe disabilities. The resident pays for the costs of living themselves. Services and support meant to help living at home are free of charge.
Aids include wheelchairs and hearing aids
The wellbeing services county provides disabled people with the aids they require. A disabled person can receive a wheelchair, a hearing aid, a white cane or a guide dog. These are free of charge for people with disabilities.
Disabled parking permits help people with limited mobility
A person with disabilities can receive a disabled parking permit. This permit allows cars to park in spots with the wheelchair symbol. These parking spots are close to buildings’ entrances.
You can receive interpreting at work or for managing matters
A person with a hearing impairment, deafblindness or speech impairment can receive interpreting for work, studies, hobbies or managing matters. You must apply for the right to use interpreting services for people with disabilities from Kela. Municipalities offer interpreting services for early childhood education, pre-primary education and primary education. Using an interpreter is free of charge if you have received the right to the interpreting services for people with disabilities. The person who needs the interpreting books the interpreter themselves.
The goal of rehabilitation is to improve work ability and managing everyday life
If a person has a severe disability or illness, they can receive rehabilitation. In Finland, rehabilitation is for both children and adults. Rehabilitation is offered both to the person with a disability and their family. Rehabilitation is directed by professionals and it can be, for example, a rehabilitation course or care such as physical therapy, psychotherapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy. It is possible to receive an interpreter for the rehabilitation courses. The aim of rehabilitation is that the person could work or manage everyday activities better and more independently despite the illness or disability.
Financial support helps pay for the costs caused by the disability or illness
A disabled person can receive disability pension (työkyvyttömyyseläke) or some other pension if they are unable to work. Kela can grant an adult or the guardian of a child under the age of 16 a monthly disability allowance. Disability allowance is granted to a person with an officially diagnosed disability or chronic illness that limits functioning.
It is possible to receive support for taking care of a disabled person at home, as well as for the care and rehabilitation for a severely ill child. The informal caregiver (omaishoitaja) of a person with disabilities can receive support for care as well as, in some cases, tax deductions for their income, travel expenses or car tax.
If a person cannot use regular clothes or shoes, or they must adhere to a special diet due to their disability or illness, they can receive an allowance for their clothes or food.
More information about financial support for disabled people: Financial support for disabled persons (infofinland.fi)
The EU Disability Card can prove the need for an assistant
A disabled person in Finland can apply for the EU Disability Card. It is granted to people with a permanent disability or chronic illness. The card can be used at culture services, sport services and tourist destinations both in Finland and in many other EU countries.
With the Disability Card, the user can show that they need help, an accessible route or an assistant, for example, at sporting events or cultural events. In many locations, the assistant or interpreter can enter for free if the card has an A symbol.
More information about the Disability Card: Disability Card (vammaiskortti.fi) Finnish, Swedish, English, Arabic, Farsi, Somali
Disability organisations try to improve the conditions of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses
There are many different organisations for disabled people and patients. These promote the interests of their members. Disability organisations also make it possible to have an impact on society and the conditions of people with disabilities.
These organisations offer guidance and counselling related to disability. They also organise diverse activities for free time and hobbies, events, and peer support for children, youths and adults. Disability organisations also enable supported holidays at resorts for the whole family and they provide membership benefits.
In Finland, there is also The Support Centre for Immigrant Persons with Disabilities and Long-Term Illnesses Hilma. It offers guidance and support for applying for services. Hilma organises activities and events for immigrants with disabilities and long-term illnesses.
The video below discusses the activities of disability organisations in Finland.
Video: Hilma Organizations for people with disabilities in Finland (youtube.com, in English) (Finnish, Arabic, English, Russian)
More information about the Support centre for disabled immigrants Hilma: Tukikeskushilma.fi Finnish, Swedish, English, Spanish, Russian, Somali, Arabic, Sorani, Turkish, Indonesian, Tigrinya, Japanese