Supported employment in Finland six years following its introduction

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Pirttimaa, Raija | Saloviita, Timo

Affiliations: Department of Special Education, PO Box 32, FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Finland. Tel.: +358 40 5394467; Fax: +358 9 1914043; E-mail: raija.pirttimaa@helsinki.fi | University of Jyvaskyla, Department of Special Education, PO Box 35, FIN-40351 Jyvaskyla, Finland. Tel.: +358 40 551 69 81; Fax: +358 14 2601 621; E-mail: Saloviita@edu.jyu.fi

Abstract: The current state of supported employment in Finland was studied through a nationwide survey given to job coaches in 2001. Supported employment was defined as paid work in integrated settings with on-going supports, including at least two visits per month at the workplace by a job coach. We found 19 supported employment programmes with 62 persons fulfilling the above definition. For the most part, the placements in supported employment were based on the personal interest of job coaches. Characteristics of people in supported employment are presented as well as their terms of employment. Some current trends of supported employment in Finland are discussed.

Keywords: supported employment, Finland, disabilities

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 301-307, 2002