SUMMARY
Individualised services, functional accomodation and accessible enviroment – A
quality recommendation for housing services for people with disabilities. Helsinki 2003 60
p. (Handbooks of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, ISSN 1236-116X; 2003:4.) ISBN
952-00-1323-7)
The national recommendation for housing services for people with disabilities was
drafted in accordance with the recommended measure No. 53 of the Target and Action Plan
for Social Welfare and Health Care for the period 2000–2003. The aim of the
recommendation is to support municipalities in their efforts to improve the quality of
accommodation and housing services for people with disabilities. In this publication the
broad concept of disability is used to refer to a situation in which a person’s
functional capacity has been reduced by an impairment or illness. Disability is not seen
as a matter of diagnosis or age. Housing in turn is understood as one of the cornerstones
of people’s life.
The recommendation is based on the principle of equality as defined in the Constitution
of Finland. Other points of departure include client-orientation and diversity of housing
types. The recommendation was drawn up in broad collaboration with users, service
providers, organisations, municipalities, State Provincial Offices, the Association of
Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of
Social Affairs and Health. The National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and
Health (STAKES) was in charge of preparatory work for the recommendation.
The recommendation can be used by municipal leaders, senior officials and elected
officials as a tool for decision-making and implementation. It consists of the following
five chapters:
- Housing needs of disabled people to be included in municipal planning
- Built environment to be made accessible and functional
- Adequate supply of accessible and functional housing
- Public services accessible for all
- Individualised services for greater equality
Each section begins with a presentation of objectives, that is, the recommendations,
followed by a description of the ways in which these objectives can be achieved. In the
last chapter the focus is on assessment and monitoring. The annexes contain further
material in support of the recommendation.
Keywords: accessibility, disability, functionality, housing, services, housing
services, quality.