Information in english

Autism is an innate, permanent, but changeable characteristic of humans. Autism is part of the natural neurodiversity of humanity, in which the different development of people’s brains produces different ways of processing information, experiencing and perceiving the world, and communicating and interacting with other people. The recognizable, common features of autism appear individually in each person on the autism spectrum. The impact of the features on functional ability varies greatly in interaction with the social, physical, and psychological environment, as well as according to the well-being of the person. The widely used term ”autism spectrum” describes the diversity and variability of autism in autistic people.

Common core features:

• Differences in social interaction, especially in interaction and communication.
• Information conveyed by the senses and its interpretation are individual and different from the majority.
• Difficulties in directing one’s own activities (executive functions).
• Particularly strong strain on the nervous system and increased stress levels.

Autism is associated with many strengths and resources, including good concentration, the ability to notice details, solve complex problems, and a strong sense of justice.

The term ”autism spectrum disorder” is used when talking about diagnostics and its criteria. The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder was created to identify those autistic people whose features, in interaction with the environment, form a disorder that impairs functional ability and requires special support from society. Not all autistic people meet these criteria.

Autism Finland is a national expert and non-governmental organization representing the autism spectrum. We are for people on the autism spectrum and their loved ones.

Founded in 1997, the Autism Finland promotes equality and the opportunity for people on the autism spectrum and their loved ones to have an impact in all areas of life.

Our members include member associations operating in different parts of Finland and nationwide, as well as supporting members of Autism Finland. See how you can get involved in our activities (site in finnish)!

What is the couseling service?

We guide and advise those who contact us on matters related to the autism spectrum. Together, we map the situation of the person who contacts us, provide advice on finding services and guide them in applying for the right services. The counseling service does not provide individual service guidance or arrange healthcare or social care services. By this we mean that we can direct those who ask questions to the right information or agency, provide general information on services, education, healthcare, rehabilitation or other agencies and matters related to the autism spectrum. We cannot take a position on individual situations and personal documents may not be sent to the advice service. Autism Finland monitors the latest information on autism spectrum issues, organises training and provides information on various forms of support and services nationwide.

Who is the couseling service intended for?

You can contact the advice service when you need advice and support in matters related to the autism spectrum. The advice service is free of charge for everyone and its target group is people on the autism spectrum, their relatives and friends, as well as professionals working with them, authorities and other parties. You do not need to belong to any association to contact the advice service. If you are concerned about something closely or distantly related to the autism spectrum, please contact us!

You can also share your successful experiences in handling matters with different parties. We are happy to hear from both serviceusers and professionals about different approaches that have proven to work.

Does Autism Finland provide services or rehablitation?

Autism Finland does not provide social or health care services or rehabilitation. It is worth following the Autism Finland’s calendar, which announces upcoming trainings and events that could benefit individuals on the autism spectrum, families and professionals in the field. You can also order trainings and consultations from Autism Finland to support customer, patient and teaching work.

Materials in english

You can find some Autism Finland’s materials also in english:

• My Autism: The guide helps children to understand their own uniqueness and strengths. This guide can be used in professional settings or parents can use it while discussing the diagnosis with their child.
• A Child On The Autism Spectrum At Day-Care: This guide explains characteristics relating to the autism spectrum, how these are seen in the behaviour of a child on the autism spectrum, and how to take these characteristics into consideration at day-care with an autistic child.
• A Child On The Autism Spectrum At School-Age: This guide explains characteristics relating to the autism spectrum, how these are seen in the behaviour of a child on the autism spectrum, and how to take these characteristics into consideration at school,during afternoon activities, and during recreational activities with an autistic child.
• The Autism Spectrum In Youth: This guide describes the special characteristics related to the autism spectrum and how they affect the behaviour of youngsters on the spectrum as they approach an age associated with many changes.
• Siblings and the Autism Spectrum: This guide covers the different aspects of a sibling relationship when one of the children is on the autism spectrum. The guide provides parents with tips on how to support a good sibling relationship.
• What is the Autism Spectrum: This brochure provides you with the main information about the autism spectrum.

Autism is a very diverse phenomenon in terms of features, which is why the age at which a diagnosis is made varies.

Getting a diagnosis often increases a person’s understanding of themselves and their immediate environment. A diagnosis is not a prerequisite for rehabilitation and support measures, but it is still of particular importance if social and health services, adaptations or supports are needed, for example in daycare or school, and if rehabilitation or therapy is needed. A diagnosis helps to structure information.

A diagnosis is not always necessary. If a person feels that they are living a satisfying life, and the autistic traits do not prevent them from functioning in everyday life, a diagnosis is not always relevant to the person’s own life.

Autism spectrum diagnosis is changing

The international classification system ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO) is also being phased out in Finland and will be replaced by the ICD-11 classification. The current estimate for the entry into force of the ICD-11 classification is 2027.

In the ICD-10 classification, diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder are classified as pervasive developmental disorders (F84). The ICD-11 classification uses the term autism spectrum disorder. This new umbrella diagnosis replaces the separate diagnoses; childhood autism, Asperger syndrome, disintegrative developmental disorder and atypical autism. In connection with the diagnosis change, Rett syndrome, which is caused by a mutation in the X chromosome, will be removed from the group of diagnoses related to the autism spectrum.

Diagnostic process

There is no specific age limit by which the features of autism should appear or by which the diagnosis should be made. However, early recognition of the features of autism is important so that everyday support measures, environmental modifications and necessary rehabilitation can be started as early as possible.

Autism can also be diagnosed in adolescence or adulthood. In this case, often demanding and changing life situations increase the social demands imposed by the environment or associated diagnoses emphasize the features of autism.

• Make an appointment with a doctor (health clinic, school or student health care, occupational health, public or private health care).

• Prepare for the appointment (think about and write down how autism traits manifest themselves, using, for example, autism screening forms).

• Request a referral for neuropsychiatric examinations

The process of diagnosing autism typically takes place in specialized medical care, in a multidisciplinary team and under the guidance of a specialist. The process is multi-stage and various neuropsychiatric examinations related to screening and assessment, structured interviews and observational measures are used to assess the symptom picture. The diagnostic process usually includes an initial interview with a nurse, visits to a psychologist, meetings with various therapists, interviews with loved ones and a specialist appointment.

The most important areas in diagnosing autism are communication, functional ability, social interaction and interests. The entire life cycle is taken into account in the diagnosis. People are often asked to bring, for example, feedback from early childhood education or school, school certificates, a child health clinic card and other documents related to childhood growth and development.

Since autism is an innate trait, during the research process, it is desirable to hear the views and experiences of parents or other educators from the subject’s early childhood. Parents are often asked to answer questions in a structured interview. However, this interview is not always necessary in the adult diagnostic process.

Getting a referral from a doctor, waiting in line for specialist care and neuropsychiatric examinations can all be time-consuming in themselves. The duration of the diagnostic process is always individual.

In Finland, social services are not based on diagnoses but rather on the specific needs of an individual or family. The need for services is evaluated by making an assessment of the need for services. Everyone has the right to have an assessment of the need for services, unless it is obvious that an assessment is unnecessary.

Social services include services to

• support people in coping with everyday life
• provide housing-related support
• give financial support
• prevent social exclusion and promote inclusion
• respond to the need for support caused by domestic and family violence or other forms of violence, abuse and mistreatment
• respond to the need for support in acute crises safeguard the balanced development and wellbeing of children
• respond to the need for support caused by alcohol and drug abuse, other addictions, mental health issues or other illness or disability or ageing
• respond to other need for support relating to physical, psychological, social or cognitive functional capacity, and
• support family and friends of those in need of support.

General social services under to Social Welfare Act are available to all based on their needs. These social services include:

• Social work and social guidance
• Social rehabilitation
• Service to promote clients’ financial operating capacity
• Family work
• Home services for families with children
• Home care
• Support services
• Housing services (temporary housing, supported housing, communal housing and service housing with 24-hour assistance)
• Institutional services
• Services supporting mobility
• Substance abuse and addiction prevention
• Special services for people with substance abuse and addiction problems
• Mental health work and mental health services
• Child guidance and family counselling
• Supervision of contact sessions between parents and children
• Time-off concerning persons who are taking care of their relative or other close person
• Services of school social workers in student welfare 

If the general social services are not enough to cover the needs of support, the services can be provided on the basis of special legislation including services for persons with disabilities, special care services for people with intellectual disabilities, supplementary and preventive social assistance, child protection, rehabilitative work activities, tasks related to child custody and rights of access, family work and informal care support.

Services for families

Services aimed at families support parents or other guardians in their efforts to ensure the well-being and good upbringing of children. These services inlude:

• Early childhood education and care
• Pre-primary education and morning and afternoon activities
• Maternity and child health clinics
• Child guidance and family counselling
• Child welfare
• Adoption
• Health services
• Custody, maintenance, acknowledgement of paternity
• Family centres

Services and support for people with disabilities

Services and support measures in accordance with the Disability Services Act are organised if a person with disabilities does not receive sufficient services and support measures meeting their needs under another Act.

The services and support measures organised by wellbeing services counties under the Disability Services Act include:

• Coaching and training 
• Personal assistance 
• Special support for inclusion 
• Supported decision-making 
• Intensive multiprofessional support 
• Housing support 
• Housing support for a child 
• Support for accessible housing 
• Short-term care 
• Day activities 
• Work activities for persons with intellectual disabilities 
• Services to support mobility 
• Financial assistance for persons dependent on a ventilator 

Wellbeing services counties can also organise other services and financial support measures that are necessary for the fulfilment of the purpose of the Act.  

To receive social services, contact your wellbeing services county.

Rehabilitation must start from supporting the development of a healthy self-esteem of a person on the autism spectrum. They do not need to change or hide their characteristics. The most important task of rehabilitation is to support skills that ensure the most independent life possible and the achievement of their own goals.

Any rehabilitation method that is based on the intention to hide or remove the characteristics characteristic of the autism spectrum from behavior is not appropriate and does not increase the well-being of a person on the autism spectrum.

Rehabilitation and support for a person on the autism spectrum must always start from increasing their personal ability to function in different environments, so that the well-being of the individual is at the center. The prerequisite is that people on the autism spectrum are accepted as they are.

Rehabilitation is based on the needs and objectives of the rehabilitee. Rehabilitation is a systematic process in which the rehabilitees maintain and improve their functional capacity and work ability with the help of professionals. It is essential that the rehabilitees’ own activity and involvement is supported and their operating environments are adapted to support the rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is part of a cross-sectoral service system that also supports people close to the rehabilitee. 

Rehabilitation can be arranged through a wellbeing services county, specialized medical care, or Kela. The responsibility for organizing rehabilitation lies with your wellbeing services county.

Rehabilitation can be provides as:

• Medical rehabilitation
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Rehabilitative work
• Social rehabilitation

To receive rehabilitation, contact your doctor and request an assessment of your rehabilitation needs.

Peer support is an activity based on reciprocity, which includes interaction with others who have experienced the same thing.

Peer support from member associations

Peer support is organized by the member associations of Autism Finland. The associations’ peer groups can be found on the associations’ own websites.

Peer Moments Online

Come and share experiences and exchange ideas with other participants. The discussions are based on peer support and are open to all members of the target group.

Welcome to the Autism Finland´s peer moments online. You can participate in a moment that you feel you belong to. You don’t need an official diagnosis, your own experience is the most important.

Autism Finland’s voluteer peer support

Autism Finland has trained volunteer peer supporters to provide peer support when an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis is new or if life circumstances are challenging. Peer support is short-term and is available to adults.