1 Invalidiliiton Käpylän kuntoutuskeskus 1 Social rehabilitation as a part of the change process - from being a patient and back to citizenship? WS 086 User involvement for people with disabilities Stockholm July 10th, 2012 Matti Koikkalainen & Stina Sjöblom, Finland

2 Invalidiliiton Käpylän kuntoutuskeskus 2 Background Käpylä Rehabilitation Centre was founded 1953 and is owned by the Finnish Association of People with Mobility Disabilities In the centre we offer specialized rehabilitation services for people who have a spinal cord injury or a brain injury As social workers we wish to spread knowledge about what we do and why we do what we do

3 Invalidiliiton Käpylän kuntoutuskeskus 3 The nature of our work During an in-patient rehabilitation period newly injured people start to face the realities of living with a spinal cord injury It’s all about finding ways to manage and take back control over one’s own life situation In social work our role is to offer support, information and help, in order to re-organize the social situation

4 Invalidiliiton Käpylän kuntoutuskeskus 4 Societal context Finland is a nordic welfare state Legislation (Constitution, Services for disabled Act) guarantees the right to full participation in most areas of life In practise, personal assistance, transportation, alterations in the house and alterations of the car are decided on and funded by the local authorities In case of traffic accidents and work accidents the insurance company is involved as well

5 Invalidiliiton Käpylän kuntoutuskeskus 5 How we see the role of social work in rehabilitation Supporting the individual in and through the different phases of acute rehabilitation Listening and getting to know the person and what the situation is for him/her Informing about rights, opportunities and different ways of organizing the services needed Assisting in finding social services and support Co-operating with the multi-professional team within the centre and with the local authorities of the person in question

6 Invalidiliiton Käpylän kuntoutuskeskus 6 Challenges The role of a patient and a medical and individual centered idea/concept of disability Professional jargon and attitudes that support the idea of dependence of care and therapies In spite of strong legislation, policies and practices that are illeagal or questionnable in light of the Finnish constitution and international human and disability rights Attitudes, lack of knowledge, underfunding

7 Invalidiliiton Käpylän kuntoutuskeskus 7 Our Main Target Groups The spinal cord injured people that we work with The multiprofessional rehabilitation team in which we work The social work professionals and other professionals in the field of rehabilitation whom we co-operate with Policy makers

8 Invalidiliiton Käpylän kuntoutuskeskus 8 Thank you for your attention!