Resources in Finland
Organizations
- Blindmusician.net
This site is operated by Mikko Huhtala, an individual who is blind. He creates music using a computer. The site includes a biography, information about the computer programs he uses to write music and how they were adapted for accessibility, and songs.
- Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities
Formerly the National Association for the Disabled in Finland, Invalidiliitto ry provides numerous services for Finns with disabilities.
- Finnish Association of Sports for the Disabled
The FASD has about 150 clubs with over 40,000 members throughout Finland. A link to the English version of the site can be found by clicking on the British flag at the bottom right of the homepage.
- Finnish Deaf-Blind Association
The association provides information and services to deaf-blind people and people with severe visual and hearing impairment in Finland.
- Finnish Federation for the Visually Impaired
The Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired provides a variety of services for Finns who are blind or have low vision. These services include: consulting regarding employment; IT training and guidance; import, sales and lending of technical aids; production of braille, large-print and audio materials; transmission of newspapers, magazines and other publications by means of information technology; guide dog training; creation of opportunities for shared leisure activities; and maintaining a strong network of international contacts by projects and development cooperation.
- Finnish Federation of Hard of Hearing People
FFHOH "represents the rights and interests and provides services for hard of hearing and deafened people and their families." This link is to the English page describing the organization. The rest of the site is in Finnish.
- KELA - Social Insurance Institution of Finland
KELA provides rehabilitation services to Finns with disabilities, and it will purchase assistive technology for use in the workplace for persons who cannot work without such products.
- Nordic Development Centre for Rehabilitation Technology
NUH is a subsidiary of the Nordic Co-Operation on Disability (NSH) in Stockholm. NUH was established in 1990. It is financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers and is located in Helsinki, Finland within the Finnish National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES). The main aim of NUH is to contribute to the joint Nordic development of new assistive technologies for persons with disabilities.
- Rullaten ry
Rullaten ry was founded in 1987 to provide information and counselling for disabled persons in Finland. The organization focuses on issues relating to transportation and travel for people with disabilities and provides information on travel-related issues. Rullaten ry serves all disabled people, their relatives, caregivers, policy makers and travel service providers as well as providers of assistive services and products. Their annual publication, "Accessible Helsinki," provides information on over 800 destinations in Finland including accessibility, accommodations, disability-related services, nature experiences, and other information of interest to travellers with disabilities.
- STAKES, National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health
STAKES is the chief source of research and policy relating to health and social issues in Finland, including disability issues. STAKES engages in research and development to promote independent living among people with disabilities and promotes accessibility in services and Design-for-All approaches. It also explores and develops various services for people with disabilities, including interpreter, personal assistance, housing and assistive technology services. In addition, STAKES maintains statistics in the topic area, including a database, Apudata, of services and organizations in the assistive technology field.
