New guidelines support the coping of people with disabilities and migrants in serious disruptions and emergencies
During the coronavirus epidemic, its adverse effects on well-being were emphasised among people in a vulnerable position. During the epidemic, shortcomings related to equality emerged, for example, in the accessibility of information and services. In addition, functional capacity limitations and socio-economic status affected in what should have been taken into account in serious disruptions and emergencies.
During the coronavirus epidemic, it was learned that wellbeing services counties and municipalities should pay attention to people with disabilities and people with a foreign background as part of their contingency plans, so that information reaches everyone during serious disruptions and emergencies.
Emergency action plans provide guidelines for the contingency plans of wellbeing services counties and municipalities
The Finnish Association on Intellectual Disabilities, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities have compiled in their recent publication key tasks, practices and proposals for supporting coping and developing preparedness in the wellbeing services counties and municipalities.
The guidelines are summarised into action cards covering three key areas:
- Emergency action plan 1. Accessible communication in disruptions and emergency conditions
- Emergency action plan 2. Cooperation between professionals in disruptions and emergency conditions
- Emergency action plan 3. Securing services in disruptions and emergencies conditions
Emergency action plans contain concrete tasks, operating methods and suggestions for supporting coping and developing preparedness.
The aim is for each municipality and wellbeing services county to use the created emergency action plans when preparing their own emergency and preparedness plans and to practice operating in disruptions and emergencies.
Research data on the effects of the coronavirus epidemic on the lives and services of people with disabilities and migrant origin populations has been utilised in the development of emergency action plans. The publication has been prepared in cooperation with experts using co-creation methods.
The publication has been produced in the Coping of disabled persons and persons of migrant origin in exceptional and crisis situations—Building the future based on experiences during COVID-19 project (2021–2023), implemented by the Finnish Association on Intellectual Disabilities, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities. The project is funded by the European Social Fund.
Explore activity cards
More information
Skogberg N, Koponen P, Lilja E, Austero S, Achame S, Castaneda A. Access to information, preventive measures and working conditions during the coronavirus epidemic : Findings of the population-based MigCOVID Survey among persons who have migrated to Finland. Discussion paper 8/2021. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
Bastola K, Nohynek H, Lilja E, Castaneda AE, Austero S, Kuusio H and Skogberg N (2023). Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Factors Associated With Complete COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Migrant Origin Persons in Finland. International Journal of Public Health.
Valtokari M, Väre A and Nurmi-Koikkalainen P (2023). Experiences of employees of disability services during the COVID-19 epidemic. Working paper 9/2023. National Institute for Health and Welfare. (in Finnish)
Päivi Nurmi-Koikkalainen
Disability in Society
Team Manager, Senior Expert
tel. + 358 29 524 7454
[email protected]
Natalia Skogberg
Migration and Cultural Diversity
Research Manager
tel. +358 29 524 7916
[email protected]
