Achieving Accessibility Together – Inclusion of Foreign-Language Speakers in Social and Health Services

How can we better consider the needs, experiences, and accessibility of people with diverse language backgrounds in health and social services?

We develop inclusive ways of working, multilingual and accessible service solutions, and strengthen professionals’ skills in providing language- and culturally-aware services.

Experts from Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SEAMK) bring together development groups in South Ostrobothnia, organize workshops, and pilot new multilingual service solutions in cooperation with the Wellbeing Services County of South Ostrobothnia.

Our goal is to make health and social services easier to access, understand, and use for everyone.

Target Groups

The main target group of the project is adults with different language backgrounds who use health and social services. Their first language is not Finnish, Swedish, or Sámi. They use services provided by wellbeing services counties and other health and social care organizations.

Another important target group is health and social care professionals. These are people who work in health and social services and meet clients from different language backgrounds. The project focuses especially on professionals working in the wellbeing services counties of Etelä-Pohjanmaa and Kanta-Häme.

The project also works with organizations and communities that support people from different language backgrounds. These include NGOs, associations, immigrant communities, and other partner networks.

The project will also support managers and development teams in the wellbeing services counties. They will be able to use the tools, practices, and results developed during the project.

The goal is to make health and social services easier to access, understand, and use for everyone.

Area of Operation

The project operates across Finland. 

Project Information

• Project Name: Achieving Accessibility Together – Inclusion of Foreign-Language Speakers in Social and Health Services
• Duration: 1 September 2026 – 31 January 2029
• Partners: Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SEAMK) and Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK)
• Funding: Co-funded by the European Union
• Budget: SEAMK budget: €232,434, total project budget: €413,778