ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the self-determination actualities of people with disabilities in Finnish disability pension system. Many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Finland are outside the labour markets, and they seem to have very little say on the matter themselves. This study includes ten interviews, eight with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and two with substance experts. The experiences are reflected on the theoretical frameworks of internalised ableism and self-determination and analysed thematically. The self-determination actualities are limited as a part of structural environment created by the Finnish disability pension system, but also as the persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities have internalised their position as outside the norm, although they at the same time crave normalcy that work life allows for a person to have. We also discuss the ongoing political reforms in Finland that may have longstanding effects on the self-determination realities of people with disabilities in this chapter, as both labour force participation and self-determination realities have been discussed on a wider societal level in Finland.
