Kynnys Finland – disability is nothing to be ashamed of
By Denise
Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. Today, in our engagement against for
non-discrimination of people with disabilities, we move to Finland to talk to
Kalle Könkköla o the organisation Kynnys.
Kynnys was founded by disabled people themselves, and I think that this is one
of the key elements of its success.
How was The Threshold Association
founded?
founded?
The Threshold Association was
founded by students with disabilities in 1973.
founded by students with disabilities in 1973.
What are the main problems that
people with disabilities face within society? Are prejudice playing an
important role into preventing their social inclusion?
people with disabilities face within society? Are prejudice playing an
important role into preventing their social inclusion?
Even though the rights of the disabled
people have been recognized, the true meaning of those rights is not always
clear for the decison makers in practice.
people have been recognized, the true meaning of those rights is not always
clear for the decison makers in practice.
There are 3 main problems that are
interconnected: poverty, low level of education and low level of employment.
interconnected: poverty, low level of education and low level of employment.
In Finland there has been a lot of
progress in basic services for the disabled (personal assistance, assistive
technology, sing language interpreters, etc.) and accessibility, especially in
public transport and in public buildings. We have more and more successful
disabled people, but it’s still a small group. There is prejudice,
but less and less so.
progress in basic services for the disabled (personal assistance, assistive
technology, sing language interpreters, etc.) and accessibility, especially in
public transport and in public buildings. We have more and more successful
disabled people, but it’s still a small group. There is prejudice,
but less and less so.
How do you address the problem of
raising awaress about disability issues?
raising awaress about disability issues?
Firstly, we defend the rights of
the individual people. Secondly, we try to raise the issue of the
disabled people to be a part of the general human rights conversation. Thirdly,
we support disabled people so that they themselves realize that disability is
nothing to be ashamed of. It’s about peer support. And finally, we
also try to bring a
without the pity. We publish books and our own magazine, organize art
festivals, run gallerys, etc.
the individual people. Secondly, we try to raise the issue of the
disabled people to be a part of the general human rights conversation. Thirdly,
we support disabled people so that they themselves realize that disability is
nothing to be ashamed of. It’s about peer support. And finally, we
also try to bring a
without the pity. We publish books and our own magazine, organize art
festivals, run gallerys, etc.
Did you developed, throughout time,
a successful program, an initiative that turned to be really effective into addressing
a problem related to disability?
a successful program, an initiative that turned to be really effective into addressing
a problem related to disability?
Defending the human rights of the
disabled has been a very successful initiative as a whole. It has affected the
ratification of the CRPD in Finland and in different kinds of legislation. We
try to be a part of all possible organisations and initiatives that work with
these issues. The situation is sometimes made harder by the economic state of
the county.
disabled has been a very successful initiative as a whole. It has affected the
ratification of the CRPD in Finland and in different kinds of legislation. We
try to be a part of all possible organisations and initiatives that work with
these issues. The situation is sometimes made harder by the economic state of
the county.
Do you cooperate with local
authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
Yes, we cooperate with lots of authorities,
politicians and non-governmental organizations. Cooperation is the basis of our
activities. Also, we work on an international level and in humanitarian aid. It
can be slow and frustrating, but in time it also has results.
politicians and non-governmental organizations. Cooperation is the basis of our
activities. Also, we work on an international level and in humanitarian aid. It
can be slow and frustrating, but in time it also has results.
