Mother of a special child: ‘It’s like we’re second-class citizens’ – Lahti draw for afternoon care for the mentally handicapped

Pupils with special needs are admitted to the city’s after-school activities, if there are still places available and the lottery allows. Families are in a difficult position.

– It feels like we are second-class citizens.

Lindstam, or anyone else, does not yet know where the child will spend his afternoons after school from next autumn.

For children with developmental disabilities and other children in need of special support in the Gulf, a change in everyday life is most likely ahead.

The city has said it will reduce the afternoon activities in the name of savings. In the new search, the post-school day was allowed to apply for 1-2 graders and children with special needs. However, places are primarily given to first grade students.

If there are seats, they will be drawn among other applicants, such as Lennin.

No decision has been taken on the number of places for after-school activities

The city has not yet decided how many places are in the distribution. It received about 800 applications, about 550 of which were first graders.

Parents of children in need of support are concerned about whether their children have a genuine chance of winning a place in the draw.

– Then there is no actual opportunity to get into the afternoon. Although the municipality is able to decide on the scope of the activity, it should be included at least to some reasonable pupils with special support. Otherwise, they will not be treated equally.

There is a concern in the Association that similar cases can emerge from other parts of Finland.

\”This also means taking the special needs of children with disabilities when deciding on the afternoon activities,\” writes Jutila in his email response.

Well-being region disagrees with the city

If Lenni does not get a winning lottery and will be left without a school afternoon, the mother must turn to the well -being area.

The Päijät-Häme welfare area has not previously systematically organized afternoon activities as the city has taken care of it so far. Lenni and other children have been able to have short -term care, for example in the evenings or on weekends. In the future, it would be needed every weekday.

– The disability services in the welfare area will have to adapt to the situation, says Pirkko Valtanen, Director of Disability Services.

Disability services do not yet know how many children are in need of short -term care after the school day since the autumn. It is not known where and how afternoon activities are organized.

In the well -being area, it was hoped that the municipality would have continued, for example, the post -school activities of severely disabled children as usual.

– We do not quite agree on how the responsibilities of the municipality and the welfare area go. In one way or another, the aim is to solve the service so that families get the service they need, says Valtanen.

The older child of Emmi-Emilia Lindstam is, like a younger child, mentally disabled. There was never any ambiguity in the afternoon of the twenties. And not even before.

The City of Lahti sees that the afternoon care for children with intellectual disabilities is in the well -being area.

Now, according to the city, children with special needs in Lahti are in school afternoon activities about 130. Some of these children have been subject to the Special Care Act.

– Operations are changing because the legislation has changed. We need to arrange and implement services in accordance with current legislation. And so, of course, we try to do it, says Virve Jämsén.

According to lawyer Tanja Salisma, the situation could have continued into the former model if the wellbeing area and the city cooperated. Money could move, children could stay in place.

– The ideal solution would be for children to continue in the same well-known morning and afternoon activities, and to the extent that it would be in accordance with the Disability Services Act, the welfare area could be acquired from the municipality.

Families are now waiting for the draw. According to the city, some will receive an answer in May, some later in the summer. The welfare area promises children with special needs as soon as possible, if there is no place in the city afternoon club.

Emmi-Emilia Lindstam and Lenni are waiting for decisions.

– Sometimes it feels like everyday is coping. We just want a safe place for the child.