Finnish Association of Spectrum Caregivers

Supporting and advocating for family carers and families of neurodivergent people in Finland.

Finnish Association of Spectrum Caregivers is a national non-profit association for family carers, relatives and loved ones of neurodivergent people in Finland.

We work to make the support needs of neurodivergent people and their families more visible and to improve access to appropriate services, support and recognition.

Care can take many forms.

In neurodivergent families, support is not always primarily physical. Everyday care may involve continuous guidance, supervision, support with communication, executive functioning and emotional regulation, anticipation of difficult situations, adapting the environment and being constantly available.

These support needs can be substantial even when they are not immediately visible to professionals or other people outside the family.

Our work

• We provide information and peer support for family carers and loved ones.
• We organise events, webinars and opportunities for discussion.
• We raise awareness of informal and often invisible care in neurodivergent families.
• We advocate for fair access to services, support and informal care arrangements.
• We contribute to public discussion and decision-making concerning neurodivergent people, families and carers.
• We cooperate with organisations, professionals, researchers and other partners in Finland and internationally.

Recognising informal care

Not everyone who provides significant care and support identifies as a carer.

A family member may gradually take responsibility for organising everyday life, appointments, communication, safety, transitions, daily routines and access to services.

One of our aims is to improve recognition of these situations and make different forms of caregiving visible.

Advocacy

We advocate for services and support that are based on the person’s actual needs rather than assumptions about how disability or support needs should look.

We also work to improve the recognition and position of family carers whose everyday responsibilities may remain invisible within existing service systems.

Work with us

We welcome cooperation with organisations, professionals, researchers and projects working with neurodivergence, disability, family carers, inclusion and human rights.

For cooperation and enquiries:
kirjon.omaishoitajat@gmail.com