Disabled people participate partly in leisure activities available to all and partly in
activities arranged especially for them. The latter are arranged by both public
authorities and disability organisations. The Ministry of Education supports their
cultural and physical activities financially, but disability organisations also receive
considerable financial support from the Slot Machine Association.
At present about 200,000 persons with disabilities or who suffer from long-term illness
as well as older persons take part in guided physical exercise. The key organisers of such
activities are the municipal sports provision, disability sports organisations and
institutions providing social and health services. Schools arrange applied physical
education for disabled pupils and pupils suffering from long-term illness. About 300
full-time physical education instructors are employed in sports activities for special
groups. About 50,000 people take part in physical activities for special groups organised
by municipalities. In addition, social and health care institutions, e.g. rehabilitation
institutions, psychiatric hospitals, special care of the mentally handicapped, and welfare
for substance abusers provide annually physical exercise for about 40,000 disabled persons
and persons suffering from long-term illness.
The state subsidy for sports provision covers twelve national disability and special
sports associations and two co-operation organisations formed by them. Disability
organisations have local associations throughout the country. About 60,000 disabled
persons and persons suffering from long-term illness take part in physical exercise
provided by them. The largest groups are persons suffering from mobility impairment or
sensory defect, mentally handicapped persons and persons suffering from respiratory
diseases. The Finnish Paralympics Association is responsible for arrangements relating to
competitive sports and top athletics.
The physical education of special groups at school takes place according to the
integration principle, but there are also about twenty special schools for children and
young persons with mobility impairment or sensory defect. In addition, about 4,000
children and young people with disabilities take part in sports activities provided by
disability organisations.
The Ministry of Education has a State Sports Council, whose sub-committee for adapted
physical activity co-ordinates and develops the physical activities for special groups.
The sub-committee also organises co-operation between the sports administration and social
and health administration. Rehabilitation is developed collaboratively so that it is
possible to engage in rehabilitative physical exercise within the framework of
physiotherapy.
Persons with disabilities also participate in creative activities of various kinds,
either in activities meant for all or in those provided by disability organisations.