Henri Ihander advocates for disability rights and employment opportunities in Finland

Henri Ihander was only 15 when a tragic accident changed his life forever. While playing ice hockey in Porvoo, he severely injured his neck after his skate hit a hole in the ice, resulting in a broken vertebra that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Now 29, Ihander faces life with quadriplegia, a condition that reshaped his dreams of becoming a professional ice hockey player.

Initially spending two months in the hospital, he faced enormous challenges, relearning even the simplest daily activities from scratch. Despite his paralysis, Ihander pursued his education, eventually graduating from high school and completing vocational training as a youth instructor. In 2022, he graduated from a university of applied sciences with a degree in community pedagogy.

Getting a job, however, proved difficult. Statistics reveal that disability is the most common basis for discrimination in Finland, with nearly 600,000 people facing challenges in employment due to their conditions. According to Jussi Aaltonen, a special advisor from the Equality Ombudsman’s office, cases of discrimination based on disability have significantly increased over the years. In 2019, there were 119 inquiries related to disability; by last year, that number had jumped to 349.

Despite being granted a disability pension at 16, Ihander sought employment and landed a role with the Invalidiliitto as an ESR project coordinator. His work focuses on enhancing job opportunities and entrepreneurship for people with disabilities.

Ihander believes that diversity should be viewed as a strength in the workforce and emphasizes the importance of equal access to employment for everyone, regardless of their physical abilities. He remains optimistic and encourages others to see beyond disabilities, reflecting on his own journey with resilience.