Vammaiset

Services for the Disabled 

Special services are available for the disabled in relation to e.g. accommodation, transport and communication. You will need a doctor’s certificate to apply for services for the disabled. These are available e.g. from Health Centres.

Disabled people between 16 and 64 years of age can apply for a Disability Allowance (vammaistuki) from Kela if they have lived in Finland for a sufficient period of time. More information is available on the Kela Website. Kela organises and compensates for medical Rehabilitation for the seriously disabled and Vocational Rehabilitation (ammatillinen kuntoutus) for incapacitated people.

Mothers and fathers can apply for Special Care Allowance (erityishoitoraha) if they cannot take part in employment due to the care of a disabled child under the age of 16 in hospital or in some cases at home. If a father or mother is caring for a disabled child under the age of 16 at home, they can apply for a Child Disability Allowance (lapsen hoitotuki) from Kela. In certain cases, a disabled child can also receive medical Rehabilitation (kuntoutus) for seriously disabled children provided by Kela.

Suomi.fi Service
Hilma, the Support Centre for Disabled Immigrants

A guide for services available for disabled immigrants is available in the following languages:

English
Finnish
Arabic
Serb Croat
Somali
Russian

Are you looking after a disabled relative at home? Does caring for your relative require extensive commitment and a lot of work on your part? The Support for Relatives of People Requiring Care of the Info Bank contains useful information and links on the support available for relatives of people requiring care.

Information on the Finnish policy on disabled people is available In English and In Finnish.

Special Education for Disabled Children

Disabled children are entitled to Special Education.

Useful Links

People with Hearing Disabilities:

The Finnish Federation of the Hard of Hearing (Kuuloliitto ry)
The Finnish Association of the Deaf (Kuurojen liitto ry)
Dictionary of Finnish Sign Language (Suomalaisen viittomakielen perussanakirja)

Visually Impaired People:

Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired (Näkövammaisten keskusliitto)
Library for the Visually Impaired (Näkövammaisten kirjasto)

People with Mental Disabilities:

Finnish Information Centre of Mental Retardation (Kehitysvammahuollon tietopankki)
The Finnish Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (Kehitysvammaliitto)
The Finnish Association of Societies for People with a Mental Handicap (Kehitysvammaisten Tukiliitto ry)