Disagreements persist over free afternoon activities for children with special needs in Northern Finland

There are ongoing disagreements between the Regional State Administrative Agency and the North Ostrobothnia welfare area regarding the provision of free afternoon activities for children with special needs, according to Marja Salo, the Director of Disability Services at Pohde. Last week, the Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency issued a notice to Pohde citing serious deficiencies and issues within the welfare area’s services for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The agency received a total of 26 written complaints or reports of issues regarding developmental disability services, along with 33 appeals related to specialized support programs and service decisions. Salo noted that a significant portion of these inquiries and appeals pertains to the organization of morning and afternoon activities for special needs children. A key point of contention is the interpretation of whether these services should be free, with differing views between Pohde and the agency.

For instance, in Oulu, the transformation of afternoon activities for special needs children under the Basic Education Act into a paid service has led to increased complaints. Traditionally, these afternoon services were free, similar to morning programs. Salo stated that these activities should primarily be organized in accordance with the Basic Education Act whenever possible, although the agency has suggested that they be arranged under the Special Care Act, thus requiring no fees.

The agency has noted deficiencies in acknowledging customer needs, communication about changes, and self-monitoring within Pohde’s services. Salo acknowledged that some of the criticisms are valid, particularly regarding decision-making and communication about changes affecting client services, as well as the lack of a required self-monitoring plan. The agency plans to conduct a follow-up visit to discuss observed issues and necessary operational adjustments. Despite the notice, Salo emphasized that services have not been neglected, stating that individuals with disabilities have still received necessary support.