Starting a working week may not be the kind of wish most people make. Yet in Helsinki, Mondays mean returning to a place built on creativity, self-determination, and inclusion for the ILO Agents. The name ILOA is an acronym drawn from Finnish words: self-determination, creativity, inclusion and activeness. At the same time, it literally means ‘joy’.
“Joy comes as a bonus, but it’s also our foundation,” Minna Saira, instructor in Helsinki explained. It is not only an action, but a mission: to spread joy while helping people with disabilities live more independent and fulfilling lives.
Three years ago, former Service Unit Manager Anne Ranki joined forces with instructors Minna Saira and Noora Altio to begin reimagining what daily activity centres could offer to people with disabilities. Their aim was simple yet transformative: to create a space where beneficiaries were not merely participants, but leaders of their own activities.
“When people are free to choose, express themselves and participate fully, joy naturally follows,” added Saira.
A day of joy in the life of an agent
A typical day begins with a morning meeting. From there, nothing is imposed: clients decide what they want to do, and the instructors step back to support their ideas. Some choose creative pursuits such as painting, crafts or theatre. Others design community projects: from growing dye plants and creating art exhibitions in a nearby forest, to visiting schools to share experiences of life after graduation.
“I love our clients. They are so genuine,” says Altio. “This job allows me to be creative every day. The freedom, the laughter, the pride on their faces – that’s what makes it worthwhile.”
The joy agents have sung carols in elderly homes, raised funds for charities, staged plays, and even organised events like Hot Dog Day and Turnip Day. Crucially, participants also take on peer leadership roles, guiding and encouraging one another. “When clients begin to support each other, I can simply enjoy the moment and let them take the lead,” said Saira. “That is inclusion at its very best.”
The impact has been profound. Saira and Altio have noticed a decrease in instances of frustration or challenging behaviour, along with a stronger sense of belonging and confidence among the group. One non-verbal participant, once very withdrawn, suggested holding a hot dog day through her communication device. She not only proposed the idea but also helped serve milkshakes to everyone. “Her face lit up, she shone,” recalled Altio. “It was a huge step for her – and a moment of joy for all of us.”
Such moments are echoed in feedback from clients: “It’s great when I can help,” wrote one. Another captured the spirit of the programme with a simple line: “Thank God it’s Monday.”
A city committed to inclusion
Helsinki has long placed inclusion at the heart of its social policies. Finland’s new legislation on services for people with disabilities, which enters into force in 2025 and is grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, provides the legal backbone. The city’s strategy is wide-ranging, encompassing independent living services and accessible housing, as well as inclusive education, digital participation, and employment support through the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
“The [IPS model] framework allows us to provide long-term job coaching tailored to each person,” explained Pauliina Vähäpesola, Chief of disability services at the City of Helsinki.
Helsinki’s Supported Employment Service, established in 1995, has become a cornerstone of these efforts. With 13 licensed job coaches supporting around 260 clients, the service provides tailored coaching to help individuals with developmental disabilities, autism, ADHD, and other conditions find and maintain employment. Coaches do so by supporting both employees and employers.
Each step is personalised – from assessing service needs, mapping alternatives, and work try-outs, to long-term on-the-job coaching. The goal is to gradually reduce support while ensuring both employee and employer feel confident. Importantly, job coaching is provided free of charge, is voluntary, and is available for as long as needed.
Employers also benefit from dedicated support, ranging from help with contracts to assistance in applying for financial incentives such as wage subsidies up to 70%, work condition arrangement support, and the City of Helsinki’s own Helsinki-extra. This service supports unemployed residents by covering the hiring expenses of private and third-sector employers. The benefit can be granted for the recruitment of those who have been awarded a pay subsidy, an employment grant for individuals aged 55 and above, or the Helsinki benefit card.
Work try-outs, which last two to three months and come at no cost to employers, provide a safe entry point for many. This dual support, for the employee and the employer, helps ensure sustainable employment pathways and greater workplace inclusion.
Beyond the offline world
Despite progress, challenges remain. Too often, mainstream services such as schools, healthcare and employment agencies struggle to adapt their practices. Employment rates for people with disabilities remain low, and children with neuropsychiatric disorders are not always fully supported in the education system.
To counteract this, Helsinki invests in education and employment, as well as in digital inclusion, community-based services, and accessible infrastructure – all designed to ensure equal participation. “It requires more resources, policy changes and awareness to build a truly inclusive society,” Vähäpesola admitted.
Through its Virtual Disability Services unit, launched in 2021, Helsinki is also breaking barriers in the digital sphere. The unit supports young adults with developmental and neuropsychiatric disabilities, as well as people whose declining functional abilities prevent them from attending in-person groups.
Services range from online clubs, where clients practice digital skills and discuss topics of interest, to face-to-face Digital Clubs that build confidence with new devices and applications. In 2024 alone, nearly 400 client contacts were made through group and individual guidance, making digital participation a real option for those who might otherwise be excluded.
A model for others?
Helsinki’s broader policies provide the framework, but it is at the grassroots level, through initiatives like the joy agents, that inclusion becomes tangible. They show that with trust, creativity and space to lead, people with disabilities can build not only their own meaningful lives, but also stronger, more joyful communities.
For now, the ILO Agents remain unique to Helsinki. However, the team aspires to share the concept more widely. They view it as a “small key to citizenship,” demonstrating that everyone, regardless of disability, has something valuable to contribute. “I am what I am. That’s enough,” as one participant put it.
Perhaps, with more cities following their lead, more people might start the week by saying: “Thank God it’s Monday again.”
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The City of Helsinki is an active member of the Eurocities group on the Inclusion of persons with disabilities. The city will participate in the upcoming Eurocities Mutual Learning event ‘Living independently in cities. Local Approaches for Persons with Disabilities’, taking place on 16 and 17 October 2025 in Vienna, Austria.
The two-day event will focus on independent living in cities – exploring local initiatives regarding deinstitutionalisation and needs-based support/assisted living for persons with disabilities. The program will include insightful site visits, transfer sessions and discussions among participants.
Registrations are open. More information here.
