Comparison of disability services in the six largest cities

Number of customers, services and costs of services with disabilities in the six largest cities in Finland since 2004. Since 2017, the data has been combined with a comparison of mental disability care. The examinations of the number of customers, services and costs of services for disabled persons in the six largest cities in Finland are limited to both services under the Act on Special Care for Persons with intellectual disabilities (519/1977) and services intended for persons with disabilities, focusing on those laid down in the Act on Services and Support Measures based on Disability (380/1987). Persons with intellectual disabilities may receive priority services on the basis of, for example, the Social Welfare Act (1301/2014), the Child Care Act (36/1973) and the Health Care Act (1326/2010). Turku’s data includes services in accordance with the Social Welfare Act. Services are also provided to persons with intellectual disabilities on the basis of the Act on Disability Services and Support Measures (380/1987), and these services are included in the section of disability services. In addition, short-term care for persons with intellectual disabilities related to the holidays of informal care allowance (Act 937/2005 on support for informal care) is included in the data of Vantaa and Turku and in Espoo’s data concerning own activities and one service provider. In Helsinki and Tampere, informal care leave are involved in their own activities. Transport services are also examined in accordance with the Social Welfare Act (SHL, 1301/2014), as this service affects the use of transport services under the Disability Services Act. The service packages included are personal assistance, outpatient care services (transport services, housing support services and work and day activities), 24-hour housing services, family care for people with intellectual disabilities and institutional care for people with intellectual disabilities. The sixth cities are made up of the six most populous cities in Finland. The six cities in the order of the population include Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa, Turku and Oulu. The six working groups compare the social and health services of cities and early childhood education and care services. Data on customer numbers, performances, personnel and costs are mainly compiled from municipalities’ own information systems and financial statements. City experts agree on as uniform definitions as possible for data collection and implement the data collection in practice.