Johanna, adaptive physical activity coordinator

I studied to become a physical education instructor at Vierumäki, and at the time, I had already been thinking about moving to Helsinki at some point. Then I found the love of my life, who was originally from Helsinki, so we moved here. I got a position as a seasonal instructor in the Northern Sports Team at Sports Services and did a few seasons of seasonal instructor work, as well as some fixed-term stints as a physical education instructor. In between, I worked in summer jobs in the Maritime Services of the Sports Services at the Munkkiniemi beach and Seurasaari.  

I think I was on various fixed-term positions of different lengths for a year and a half, when a permanent physical education instructor position opened up after a long time.  At that time, I applied for both that one, a permanent physical education instructor position in the northern team, and a substitute position as a senior physical education instructor in the Käpylinna branch. By a stroke of luck, I landed both the two-year deputy position and the permanent position.  And when they asked me if I wanted to start the permanent position right away or hold on to it while taking the two-year substitute position, I said I wanted to get the experience from the senior instructor position first.  

For two years, I was a physical education instructor at the Käpylinna unit, which focuses on activities for the elderly and customers of adaptive sports. That was really an insane stroke of luck, and I was really, really happy about it.  I had specialised in adaptive sports in my studies, and the Käpylinna position let me take advantage of this specialisation, as there were a lot of adaptive sports classes and other low-threshold activities.   

After two years, the Käpylinna unit closed, and I returned to my permanent position as a physical education instructor. Pretty soon after that, internal talks began at sports services about the fact that as we had coordinators for children’s, young adults and family sports, among others, it would also be good to have a coordinator in adaptive sports. That’s the position that they gave me. And that’s what I still do today.   

My work includes certain tasks defined by my supervisor, such as planning seasonal activities and guiding groups. My job also includes, in significant parts, the coordination of partnerships with associations and clubs that have special adaptive sports capabilities. But I also have a lot of freedom to define things and brainstorm on my own. And my job is nice because it still includes physical education instruction for about 10 hours a week, so I get to implement the things that I brainstorm with my supervisor and planner colleagues.   

All my instruction work is in some way related to adaptive sports. Among other things, I supervise the adaptive water gymnastics groups, gym classes for people with developmental disabilities and mental health rehabilitees, a sports club for people with developmental disabilities, and school swimming for special needs children.   

In addition, I go to various places and different groups to tell about the activities of sports services. Sports services is great because we have a lot of low-threshold activities, but our services can also be confusingly wide in scope, and I try to tell the various target groups about them so that they get to know what’s essential for them.   

I also do adaptive sports counselling, which we launched in the spring of 2023. The process lasts 6 to 8 months, during which I meet the customer at least five times. The customer sets their own goals, and my role as sports counsellor is to provide advice and support that promotes their well-being and to support them in finding avenues for everyday activity. Adaptive sports counselling is a completely free service.   

I have learned a lot along the way about physical education instruction. For example, at first, I had no idea how to use music and stay on the beat. That’s something I’ve got better at. I worked at a unit that guided customers of adaptive sports. With them, I gained valuable experiences with customers, which taught me, as an instructor, different perspectives on mobility, as well as how to live and move with disabilities. In my work, I get to give customers a wide range of adaptive sports – that is, different forms of mobility that are just right for them. I like to talk more about movement and mobility than exercise.  

I have been at sports services for nine years, thanks to which I already know our structures well. It has made things surprisingly easier in my current job, but of course, you can always ask to find out.  

The best thing about my work is the variety and a certain type of self-direction. My supervisor provides a framework, but I can influence the content and do things that I’m passionate about. The work includes both office work and instructions, and I find both tasks highly motivating. I’m also a member of various working groups such as the Swimming Working Group where I strive to represent the perspective of adaptive sports, as well as the Well-being at Work Group.  

My employer’s support has made it possible for me to show what I’m capable of, and what I can do, and I’ve had opportunities to develop in what I’m passionate about, and what I want to do. I’ve had opportunities to train and develop my activities and expertise, and I’ve received help whenever I’ve needed it.