A regional survey of the housing circumstances of families with children experiencing intellectual and motor disabilities.

Housing is an important aspect in promoting the home care of disabled children, but also one which is too often forgotten by professionals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the housing conditions and the need for modifications, of 204 families with disabled children using technical aids. The housing condition of the families was good compared to average Finnish families with children. One hundred and sixty families had made no housing modifications, but 48 families had need for them, most often to bathrooms and toilets. The need increased with the severity of the children's motor and intellectual disabilities and the need to provide care in line with the number of technical aids in use. It is concluded that families with disabled children need more information on the possibilities for carrying out housing modifications, and that home visits by a case manager are important to evaluate environmental factors affecting the care.