Disability services
In this section, we describe the disability services and the process of applying for them. In Finland, the state provides some services to persons with disabilities who are legally entitled to them. The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) is responsible for disability benefits, disability allowance, rehabilitation allowance and partial rehabilitation allowance, rehabilitation services, support for work and study, support for living with an illness or impairment, and financial support.
However, the wellbeing services counties are mostly responsible for disability services. In this section, we describe the social services and support for persons with disabilities that are organised by the counties. If you are interested in, for instance, health services for persons with disabilities, please get familiar with the links in the info boxes.
In this section, we also explain how a person’s right for self-determination is supported. In social welfare activities, the client’s wishes and opinions are to be taken into account in the first place. The client must be given the possibility to take part in and influence the planning and realisation of their services.
In this section
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
- Services and support for people with disabilities (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health)Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- Services for disabled persons (infoFinland)Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- Disability – Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- Rehabilitation – Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira)Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- The National Advisory Board on Social Welfare and Health Care Ethics ETENELink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- Advisory Board for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities VANELink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- Abilis Foundation – Projects for persons with disabilities in developing countriesLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- Autism Finland (in Finnish)Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- The Finnish Association of People with Physical DisabilitiesLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- The Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FAIDD)Link to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- The Finnish Disability Forum – Co-operative organisation for 30 national disability organisationsLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- Hilma – Support Centre for Immigrant Persons with Disabilities and long-term IllnessesLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- Kehitysvammatuki 57 – Organisation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and for their familiesLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- The Threshold Association – Cross-disability organisation of human rights of persons with disabilitiesLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab
- Vamlas Foundation – Promotes diversity and inclusion of young people with disabilitiesLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab