Exploring Independent Living Practices Across Nordic and Baltic Countries

The Nordic and Baltic countries have long been advocates for independent living and community inclusion. As part of Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, we invited representatives of these countries to a seminar on the theme of Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which emphasises the individual’s right to live independently and be included in the community. —an ideal that resonates deeply across these nations. The event brought together experts and policymakers to discuss strategies and practices that promote these rights and address shared challenges.

Independent Living Practices – examples from the seminar

The seminar in Helsinki provided an insightful platform for exploring independent living practices across the Nordic and Baltic nations. Experts and policymakers shared diverse approaches and solutions, offering a glimpse into the progress and challenges in this area.

These following examples illustrate the diverse approaches taken by Nordic and Baltic countries to promote independent living and inclusion.

A Knowledge Hub for Inclusion in Sweden

With over 29,500 adults benefiting from special housing, Sweden is taking steps to improve staff competence in care facilities. A new National Centre for Autism and Intellectual/Developmental Disability, set to launch in 2025, will focus on self-determination, supported decision-making, and adherence to the CRPD. By focusing on specialized resources and guidance, this center empowers individuals to thrive in residential settings while being fully integrated into their communities. Karin Flyckt from Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare highlighted the importance of enhancing care quality while reducing coercive measures, empowering individuals to live with greater independence.

Iceland: Comprehensive Measures for Inclusion

Iceland has made strides in promoting independent living for persons with disabilities. Services like home assistance, personal care, and suitable housing initiatives are complemented by the country’s National Implementation Plan for the CRPD (2024–2027). Anna Klara Georgsdóttir from the Ministry of Social Affairs emphasized the impact of accessible measures like assistant cards, pension reforms, and assistive technology in fostering autonomy and dignity. She shared the efforts to enhance community-based services. These initiatives prioritize the well-being and autonomy of individuals with disabilities, providing tailored support that enables them to live independently.

Estonia: Transforming Special Care Services

A person-centered approach is at the heart of Estonia’s efforts to reshape its special care system. Elen Preimann from Estonia’s Ministry of Social Affairs presented a pilot project for a component-based service model, showcasing its potential to replace institutional care with tailored community services. This innovative approach addresses the unique needs of everyone, ensuring that they receive the right services at the right time.

Independent living initiatives in Norway

For Norway, aligning national legislation with the CRPD has been a key focus. The CRPD project, spearheaded by the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth, and Family Affairs, provides practical resources like e-learning materials to empower individuals in exercising their rights. Anna Bjørshol emphasized the principle that no citizen should be forced to live in a particular setting, ensuring freedom of choice and independence in housing arrangements

Community-Based Living as the Goal in Finland

Although Finland has made notable progress in deinstitutionalization, challenges remain in fully eliminating institutional care. The ongoing program to transition individuals to smaller, community-based living environments continues to face hurdles, as Hannu Vesala from the Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities cautioned against “re-institutionalization.” Smaller settings have proven to be vital in supporting autonomy and reducing dependency on large service centers. Reflections on the current state of deinstitutionalization emphasized the ongoing need to develop and strengthen community-based services.

Supported Decision-Making: A Shared Priority

The seminar also addressed the vital topic of supported decision-making by the Nordic and Baltic countries. The nations shared approaches to empowering personal autonomy and restoring legal capacity, demonstrating progress in this critical area, underscoring the collective commitment across the region to uphold the CRPD principles.

Conclusion

The seminar in Helsinki highlighted the collective efforts of Nordic and Baltic nations to promote independent living and inclusion for persons with disabilities. The countries are all sharing a commitment to the principles of the UN CRPD. Independent living is not only about providing services but above all about strengthening self-determination, human dignity, and inclusion —values that resonate universally and inspire ongoing progress.

The article is part of the Disability in Society blog series. The Disability in Society blog series deals with phenomena connected with disability and services for persons with disabilities in our society. The concept of disability has changed with time. Issues that are important today include human rights, participation, self-determination, access, and accessibility.