The daily life of people with disabilities: experience of Lappeenranta

Abstract

The article is devoted to the experience of social services in South Karelia (region of Finland) in respect of different types of urban support for disabled people in the areas of employment, housing and hobbies. The article describes the work of institutions providing assistance to people with disabilities and the services which are being provided by social service Eksote in Lappeenranta, Imatra and Parikkale. The article describes the work of centers round the clock monitoring and employment for the day, as well as the daily lives of people with Down syndrome, severe autism, intellectual disabilities. The attention is focused on the best practices in Finland, enabling the disabled child to engage in open employment. The article informs about the kinds of financial support for disabled people in Finland and assistance from the National Insurance Institute Kela, including the payment of rental housing. This article describes the features and differences of the centers around the clock care for people with disabilities in South Karelia: Houses “Petyayamyaki” and Private accommodation center “Villa of Karelia “for people requiring intensive care. The article describes the features of the day centers of employment for people with disabilities in Finland: the Center for Independent Living Support “Arttu” and Center “Valtsy.” According to the official position of the Government of Finland, persons with disabilities have the same rights as all other citizens of the country, and they have possibility to make decisions about their own lives. The Finnish system of medical and social rehabilitation of people with disabilities deserves the attention and replication in Russia.