Daycare Taneli in the Helsinki district of Pitäjänmäki is the only daycare centre in the capital to incorporate sign language as part of daily life in early childhood education. Early childhood education teachers, caregivers and special needs assistants who use sign language, as well as sign language interpreters, work daily at the centre. Other staff are trained to use sign language accordingly. The service includes support from the unit’s special needs teacher in early childhood education. The special needs teacher has insight on carrying out joint early childhood education for those who use sign language and those who can hear.
“Making the daycare centre activities at Taneli available to children who are deaf and children who use sign language has been a very important step for all parents, guardians and children in this situation. We would like other municipalities in the metropolitan area to learn from the example set by Taneli – without forgetting Finland-Swedish Sign Language, of course,” the Council on Disability stated in its grounds for the recognition.
At Daycare Taneli, children communicate using Finnish Sign Language and by speaking Finnish. Of the five groups in the daycare centre, three provide early childhood education in sign language together with children who can hear, and the results have been excellent. The City of Helsinki answered the wishes of families with members who are hard of hearing and centralised early childhood education in sign language at one location in Pitäjänmäki.
Council on Disability honours accessibility specialists
“The Council on Disability promotes the non-discrimination and participation of Helsinki residents who have a disability or long-term illness. Daycare Taneli is a wonderful example of how accessibility in everyday life increases opportunities to live a richer life alreadyfrom childhood. We need more openness and innovation in different areas of everyday life to make accessibility available to everyone, regardless of their age,” said the Council's Chair Sirpa Puhakka.
The Council also extended its appreciation to accessibility specialists Pirjo Tujula from the City of Helsinki and Juha Sylberg from the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired. Expertise in accessibility continues to be needed throughout the services offered by the City of Helsinki.
Accessibility Award awarded annually
The winner of the Accessibility Award was announced at Helsinki City Hall on Wednesday 10 December at a Human Rights Day event.
The City of Helsinki's Council on Disability has presented the annual Accessibility Award since 2016 to parties that have promoted the equal participation, easy access to services and accessibility of Helsinki residents who have a disability or long-term illness. In 2024, the recognition was presented to the Finnish National Gallery for its work on accessibility in the Ateneum, Kiasma and Sinebrychoff art museums.
