Finnish history of adapted physical activity

Adapted Physical Activity|What is Adapted Physical Activity?|Finnish history of adapted physical activity

Important steps in development

Adapted physical activity (APA) and disability sports have a long history and tradition in Finland. Through their rich history, APA and disability sport have become an important part of the Finnish sport and physical activity culture. This site contains information about the most important steps in the development of Finnish APA.

Timeline:

1960s

First sports organizations for persons with disabilities were founded in Finland
Posts for APA instructors in institutions
The first APA seminar 1969 (Finnish Society of Sport Science)

1970s

University-level education in APA begins in University of Jyväskylä
A pilot and research project about APA in municipalities during 1976−1979 (led by the Finnish Society of Sport Science)
Proposal for an amendment to the Sports Act regarding physical activity of persons with disabilities

1980s

National committee for Adapted Physical Activity was founded in 1981
A position for a full-time APA planning officer in central government 1982
The first Finnish textbook on APA 1983
Positions for APA instructors in municipalities 1984. A wider scale APA action starts in municipalities
The first APA consultation days 1986
Council for Adapted Physical Activity 1988

1990s

A subcommittee for APA was founded to the National Sports Council 1991
The Finnish Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (SoveLi) is founded
APA becomes a field of specialization in University of Jyväskylä
University of Jyväskylä gets a Professorship in APA
The Reform of the Sports Act 1998: Local government (municipality) shall provide opportunities and facilities for physical activity of their inhabitants, taking into account groups with special needs
The first “APA into Municipalities Project” in 1997−1999 organized by Finnish Society of Sport Sciences, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

2000s

Committee founded to develop health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) 2000−2001
The evaluation reports of APA instructors work in municipalities become regular (2002, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017)
Extensive projects, for example APA into municipalities 2004−2006, 2007−2009 and 2013−2015
A large number of new books and educational materials published
Increase in the funding of organizations
Activities to enhance integration and inclusion
Process of integrating Disability Sport into national Sport Associations begins in 2005

2010s

Four Finnish APA organizations merged into Finnish Sports Association of Persons with Disabilities (VAU ry) 2010
National Sports Councils sub-committee of APA sub-committee of the National Sports Council is replaced with Division for Equality and Equity in 2016. Promoting APA is one of the tasks of the new division.
Finnish Society of Sport Sciences publishes an evaluation report of the governments’ activities in APA 2018