Disability organisations have originated from charity work for persons with
disabilities. These organisations have developed into interest organisations that draw
attention to disabled persons’ needs and advocate and promote their rights in
society. The role and influence of disability organisations in society is significant.
They have direct contacts with Parliament and influence actively political
decision-makers. They act together and separately taking initiatives and issuing opinions
at different levels of administration. Their representatives take part in working groups
and committees of public administration. Disability organisations increase the awareness
of their members of issues related to their impairments and to their societal rights. They
strengthen the identity of disabled persons and their facilities to influence their own
living conditions. Besides increasing the awareness of their own members, these
organisations also work for increasing the information and awareness of the whole
population about disability issues.
Most disabled persons are organised according to their type of disability. Disability
organisations are in general rather large; they have paid employees and local associations
with large numbers of members, who also do voluntary work. In addition, there are small
nation-wide voluntary organisations. There are altogether about 80 disability
organisations in Finland. These have an umbrella body called the Disability Forum, which
is at present intensifying its liaison work.
Disability organisations also provide and develop special services needed by disabled
persons, such as rehabilitation, educational and housing services. This action presupposes
interaction and co-operation with the authorities. State and municipal authorities
purchase services from disability organisations to supplement their own service provision.
Disability organisations obtain part of their funding through their own campaigns and
membership fees. A Finnish peculiarity is the Slot Machine Association, which has a
monopoly to run slot gaming machines, and provides disability organisations with sizeable
financial support from its revenue.
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Advisory Board for Rehabilitation
National Council on Disability
P.O. Box 267, FIN- 00171 Helsinki
Tel. +358 9 1601
National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES)
- Research Unit on Independent Living
- Quality Assurance Project/FINNSOC
P.O. Box 220, FIN- 00531 Helsinki
tel. +358 9 39671
Ministry of Transport and Communications
P.O. Box 235, FIN- 00131 Helsinki
tel. +359 9 1601
Ministry of Education
P.O. Box 293, FIN- 00171 Helsinki
tel. +358 9 134171
Ministry of Labour
P.O. Box 524, FIN-00101 Helsinki
tel. +359 9 18561
Social Insurance Institution (KELA)
P.O. Box 450, FIN-00101
tel. +358 9 43411
University of Kuopio
Research Unit on Disability
P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio
tel. +358 17 162671
e-mail: pirkko.koivula@uku.fi
University of Jyväskylä
Foundation for Research on Disability
P.O. Box 35 (MAB) FIN-40351 Jyväskylä
e-mail: vaatain@dodo.jyu.fi
Association of Voluntary Health, Social and Welfare Organisations (YTY ry)
Ilkantie 4, FIN-00400 Helsinki
tel. +358 9 580 3360
fax +358 9 580 3770
Disability Forum
c/o National Association of the Disabled
Kumpulantie 1
FIN-00520 Helsinki
Finnish Slot Machine Association (RAY)
P.O. Box 30, FIN-02151 Espoo
tel. +358 9 43701
www.ray.fi