Disability services

What to do when you need information about services for people with disabilities

Please contact Counselling for People with Disabilities by phone or email. Alternatively, you can visit one of our service points in person. If you already have a designated responsible worker for city-provided disability services, don’t hesitate to seek guidance and advice from them.

See the contact information for Counselling for People with Disabilities

On this website

Advice and guidance

You are provided with information on disability services and how to apply for them. We have compiled all the forms and information about our services in easy-to-read language. We have also listed contact information for organisations.

Housing

We offer various housing services such as supported housing, service housing and family care. You can also find information on apartment modifications and other housing services.

Personal assistance and support person activities

A personal assistant assists you with daily activities that you would otherwise not be able to do as a result of your disability or illness. You can engage in recreational activities with a support person.

Informal care

Informal care means that a close relative or friend cares for you. Your informal caregiver receives compensation for your care and is also entitled to days off.

Getting around

You can get support for your trips to and from your workplace, school and leisure activities. You can also apply for financial support in order to purchase a vehicle.

Health and rehabilitation services

You can find information on the services of the Disability Outpatient Clinic and our other health and rehabilitation services.

Work and day activities

We offer meaningful day activities at our service centres for people past the compulsory education age. You can participate in work activities at the service centres or at workplaces. We also offer job coaching and career planning.

Social work

Social work includes counselling, conducting service needs assessments, preparing client plans and decision-making. We carry out these tasks in close collaboration with you and your loved ones, and with the involvement of other professionals.

Holiday activities for children with disabilities

We provide holiday activities for children and young people with disabilities in years 1–9 during school holidays. They support guardians in balancing work or studies during holiday periods while promoting the well-being of children and families.

Support for every stage of life

We have compiled useful information on services and support for dealing with life changes for special needs families, Helsinki residents with disabilities, and their loved ones.

Education services for children and young adults living with a disability

Morning, after-school and holiday activities for children with disabilities and autism

We arrange morning, after-school, and holiday activities tailored for children and young individuals with disabilities and autism who are in extended compulsory education.

Support services for learning

Every pupil is provided with the support they need in studies and learning. Each pupil has individual needs, so there are different support forms.

Journeys to and from school

You can apply for special transportation for your child if your child cannot manage the school journey on their own by public transport. For children using special transportation, two special transport journeys are available per day.

Extended compulsory education

A child qualifies for extended compulsory education if, due to a severe disability or illness, they are unable to attain the prescribed educational objectives within the standard nine-year timeframe.

Special schools and hospital school

We have four Finnish-language special schools. We also provide hospital school instruction in Finnish and Swedish.

Did you know this?

Children aged 3 and above with chronic illnesses or disabilities who require daily diapers can receive them from us at no cost.

To obtain diapers, you will need a referral, which you can request from specialised healthcare or your local health station.

For further information on how to order diapers, please visit the webpage for distribution of self-care supplies.

Transport services

Transport services are designed to assist Helsinki residents coping with severe disabilities, who, because of their condition or illness, face significantly challenging long-term obstacles when utilising public transportation. You can request transport services through Helsinki Transport Service (Helsingin Matkapalvelu).

Go to the Helsinki Transport Service website (Link leads to external service)

Come and enjoy sports!

Adaptive physical activity encompasses physical activity programmes designed to accommodate individuals facing challenges in participating due to disabilities, illnesses, a decline in functional capacity, or their social circumstances.

The City of Helsinki’s Sports Services offer many opportunities for guided adaptive physical activity around the city. We also organise adaptive sports in cooperation with organisations and clubs.

Explore our sports offering and springtime sports courses (Link leads to external service)

Apply for disability services

If you need help in your daily life due to a disability, long-term illness or limitation of functional capacity, disability services can be useful. Before you apply for disability services, take a look at the services offered by the City of Helsinki and consider which of them could be of help to you.

Read the application instructions

You can also find this page at hel.fi/disability-services.