Services that support mobility
Services that support mobility include transport services, mobility aids and mobility instruction.
Transport services in the area are provided by the Western Uusimaa Transport Services. Click here to go to Western Uusimaa Transport Service's site.
If you are a wheelchair user, you do not need a ticket on any public transport operated by Helsinki Region Transport (HSL).
Your companion can travel for free with you, provided you have a Companion Pass. Instructions on how to apply for the Companion Pass are available on the HSL website. Click here to go to HSL website (external link).(extrernal link)
Visually impaired persons, disabled war veterans and front veterans who are permanent residents in the HSL area are entitled to a free HSL travel card provided they meet certain criteria. The card allows for free travel in the HSL area. Further information is available on the HSL website. Click here to go to HSL website (external link).(extrernal link)
We may grant you financial support for example to help you purchase a car or an electric mobility scooter. In the case of cars, we primarily grant financial support to persons with severe disabilities who need a car daily. We will also cover the cost of the necessary modifications to the car.
Persons with disabilities may be eligible for a disability tax deduction on the car. Further information is available in Finnish on the website of the Finnish Tax Administration. Click here to go to Finnish Tax Administration's website (external link).(extrernal link)
You can apply for a parking card for people with disabilities from Traficom. Click here to read further information about applying for a parking card for people with disabilities and tax exemption (external link).(extrernal link)
We recommend that you contact the HUS Assistive Equipment Centre to ask about mobility aids. Click here to go to HUS website (external link).(extrernal link)
HUS is in charge of providing instruction in basic orientation and mobility skills for persons with a visual impairment, covering the necessary routes in their immediate environment. Disability Services may also grant people with visual impairments more extensive orientation and mobility instruction.
Additionally, orientation and mobility instruction may for example be granted to persons with brain injury or an intellectual disability to help them learn routes or the use of public transport.
To apply for instruction, please fill in the general disability services application form.
If your disability or illness makes it unreasonably difficult for you to use public transport, you may apply for transport services. If necessary, you may also apply for companion services.
You can apply for transport services under the Disability Services Act through our Disability Services. You must attach a medical statement to your application with a detailed description of your mobility and functional capacity. Click here to find to forms to fill in. You can also apply for transport benefit online. Click here to read more.
Please note that if you are entitled to transport services under the Social Welfare Act, you must apply for them through Nestori – Guidance and Service Counselling for Senior Citizens. Click here to go to Nestori's site.
Transport services in the area are provided by the Western Uusimaa Transport Services. Click here to go to Western Uusimaa Transport Service's site.
How to use transport services in other municipalities
You can use transport services under the Disability Services Act in other municipalities in Finland. You will have to pay for the trips yourself. You will be reimbursed for the costs of the trips to a reasonable extent (max EUR 41 per trip).
Furthermore, you will be reimbursed for additional services you may need as follows:
- service fee EUR 4.50
- assistance fee EUR 15.70
- stair assistance fee (for wheelchair users) EUR 31.40
Further information: City of Espoo Logistics, tel. 09 816 24000, Mon–Fri 9:00–15:00, henkilokuljetukset@espoo.fi.
You may be granted the right to use a familiar taxi driver on special grounds if changing drivers makes the use of transport services difficult due to your disability or illness.
Who is entitled to a familiar taxi driver?
Restrictions caused by the operating practices of Transport Services and the general rules of Transport Services are not reasons for granting the right to a familiar taxi driver.
A client may be granted the right to a familiar taxi driver if the client has:
- severe behavioural problems
- severe phobias
- a severe communication problem related to a disability or illness which makes it difficult for the client to express their wishes verbally and if the client travels alone
- other special reason.
A client may also be granted the right to a familiar taxi driver if
- the total weight of the client and their assistive device is at least 550 kg, in which case the lift capacity of a normal accessible vehicle is not sufficient.
- the client uses a particularly wide or long mobility scooter (more than 160 cm in length or more than 80 cm in width), which means that the mobility scooter does not fit into a normal accessible vehicle.
How will the right to a familiar taxi driver be assessed?
A client can apply for the right to a familiar taxi driver from the disability services of their municipality of residence by submitting a free-form application. A disability services employee will assess whether the client has the right to a familiar taxi driver.
The client will receive a written decision on the matter. If the client is granted the right to a familiar taxi driver, the employee will enter the information in the client’s Transport Services profile. Transport Services will agree with the client on a specific driver/drivers to whom all the client’s bookings will be forwarded.
You may apply for transport services under the Disability Services Act for a child who is old enough to use public transport alone but cannot do so because of their disability or the assistive devices they need.
Early childhood education arranges transport to the day care centre if necessary. Basic education arranges transport to school if necessary. Read more: School transportation for pupils in Finnish-speaking basic education.
You can apply for taxi trips to a place of study after comprehensive school from Disability Services if you are unable to go to school independently using public transport. You need a medical certificate and a certificate of attendance from the school as an attachment to the application. It is advisable to apply for trips to studies from Disability Services as soon as you receive information about the place of study.