Opinion|Reader’s opinion
The savings are more important than human rights in social work.
Helsingin sanomat newspaper said (20.12.) Coltrane Hassi, a severely disabled person from Espoo, whose adequate disability services are under threat after the end of family care. Hassinen’s need for help is constant due to a rare injury. Now the city of Espoo has bought services from Validia Kouvola for Hasionen. This is despite the fact that the Constitution guarantees everyone the right to choose their place of residence.
The case shows the non-existent appreciation of the work of carers and how savings outweigh human rights in social work. Moving to a housing unit is thought to be a more cost-effective or hassle-free way to arrange services, for example, than personal help. That is the case if fundamental rights are reduced to the right of a disabled person to housing and social work is done for the needs of the administration.
Social work can still force people with disabilities to live in institutions without being hindered by anyone. The worst part is that these tacit reductions in fundamental rights are made in the form of inclusive service plans in “agreement” with the customer. Those who need help and services the most rarely demand their rights, because the fear of reducing services already serves as a threat to existence.
When the nature of fundamental rights and their importance to the daily lives of people with disabilities are not in the hands of decision-makers, it is easy to make nasty decisions forgetting that disability is a lifelong condition – not the hassle of a car maintenance day.
Sanni Purhonen
spokesman
Terhi Toikkanen
lawyer
Kynnys ry, a human rights organization for the disabled
Reader opinions are speeches written by HS readers, selected and delivered by HS’s editorial staff. You can leave a comment or read the principles of writing at www.hs.fi/kirjtamielipidekirjoitus/.
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