New Act on Disability Services and Assistance Expands Services and Brings Greater Freedom of Choice

Initially scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2023, the enactment of the new Act on Disability Services and Assistance has experienced delays.  

Despite the postponement, the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County has been working hard to understand and implement the new act.    

- “As the director of social work for people with disabilities, I participated in working groups that studied the new legislation throughout 2022. We were preparing intensively for the act to come into force on 1 January 2023, until we learned in mid-December that it was pushed back,” says Teija Motturi.  

As of now, the new act is supposed to take effect from 1 October 2023, but the government is currently preparing to delay it further to 1 October 2024. The matter remains uncertain at this point.   

- “With the postponement, the government might also review the whole act or make changes to certain sections.”  

Nevertheless, Motturi thinks that a new Act on Disability Services and Assistance is necessary. The current law, which was made in 1987, is clearly outdated.  

- “The world has changed significantly over the decades, and the existing application of the law already follows judicial practices, which can differ substantially from the written clause,” Motturi states.  

Motturi says that the new law allows for more diverse ways of organizing services. It also gives more importance to people’s participation and involvement.  

Overall, the new act emphasizes the proactive role of each client in the assessment, planning, and delivery of services.  

- “The new law has many merits. It introduces new services and increases the client's freedom of choice. The objective is to grant clients so-called service packages, which include services accorded by other laws, as well as services based on the Act on Disability Services and Assistance,” Motturi explains.  

Motturi sees the new Disability Services Act as somewhat of a “messenger” addressing societal needs for change. 

- “Society should be accessible to everyone, with basic public services so wide that services based on special legislation would no longer be necessary.”  

In practice, this would mean having nationwide accessible public transportation, employment services for people with special needs and partial work ability, and accessible housing.  

- “Housing companies should take the initiative to provide residences already equipped with wheelchair ramps and door opening systems.”  

Motturi is watching closely how the new law will develop.  

- “It is acknowledged that some parts of the law need to be refined and changed. But once the main structure is working, we can make changes to specific parts later. The new law is a new start, and we welcome change,” Motturi concludes.