Association says welfare counties seek illegal savings on disability services

Finland’s Developmental Disability Association says welfare services counties are increasingly making decisions about services for people with intellectual disabilities without hearing from the people affected. Yle reports that Sami Velin was moved from work activities to day activities in August, losing his work compensation and seeing his tasks replaced mainly by crafts and other light pastimes.

The decision was made by Keusote, the wellbeing services county for Central Uusimaa. Sami’s mother, Päivi Velin, says neither the county nor its officials asked her son what he thought of the change. She fears his ability to function will decline.

When asked what he had done in day activities during the previous week, Sami replied: “Nothing.” His former work included subcontracting tasks such as collecting rubbish, packing combs and clearing snow.

The work activities paid him nine euros a day. A seven-euro daily meal charge was deducted from that amount. In day activities, he has to pay for his food himself.

Päivi Velin says the compensation mattered less than having work to do and being paid for it. She describes the transfer as a unilateral decision and says the work had helped her son maintain his abilities.

The Developmental Disability Association says it has received increasing reports of similar cases over the past year. Its executive director, Susanna Hintsala, says Finnish social welfare and disability services laws require officials to establish the person’s own views when assessing service needs. Relatives can help when needed, she says.

Hintsala says strict cost-saving pressure may be contributing to the trend, with some welfare services counties making rapid and broadly applied decisions to improve their finances. She did not comment on Sami Velin’s individual case.

Hyvil, which provides expert services to welfare services counties, says it does not recognise this as a wider trend. Jaana Viemerö, its senior specialist for disability services, says the new Disability Services Act, which took effect at the beginning of last year, may be causing confusion.

Services provided under the previous law must be reviewed and brought into line with the new law by the end of next year. Viemerö says the law does not allow officials to bypass hearing clients; instead, it emphasises the participation of people with disabilities in the process.

Hintsala says discussions with clients can lead to workable compromises and prevent decisions from coming as a surprise. She also says tailoring services to individual needs may prove cost-effective, as people receive neither more nor less support than they need.

Sami Velin, whose developmental level is below that of a school-age child, cannot read or write. He has taken part in work activities for people with intellectual disabilities for about 20 years and hopes to return to work. He plays floorball on Tuesdays and enjoys Finnish rap.

Yle says Keusote did not answer its questions about the issue. Welfare services counties do not comment on individual clients’ cases.