International Forum on Independent Living

Keynote Speech : Promoting The Self-help Movement and International Solidarity in Individual Countries

Mr. Eita Yashiro, The House of Representatives

The "International Year of Disabled Persons: full participation and equality" proclaimed by the UN had a great impact on the promotion of self-help movement of persons with disabilities. Having been in a wheelchair by an accident on the job and elected as a member of the House of Representatives with the support of persons with disabilities, I have been working to improve welfare services for them and to support other policies to enhance their self-help efforts.

In retrospect, the self-help movement of persons with disabilities was initiated by those who with limb disabilities, especially the wheelchair inspired by self-help movement in Berkley, the US. I have been advocating better policies, while learning from their experience and exchanging ideas with Judy Human and Jatendat in Berkley. In Japan, too, various community workshops for the disabled have been built and this movement spread to group-home movement.

While such movement was taking place, I proposed to found an association for persons with disabilities in the US and Japan. I also had an opportunity to discuss a variety of policies with people with physical, mental and sensory impairment in Japan and the US in a bi-annual conference held in each country alternatively. I took part in this conference because I was fully aware that participation of the very people with disabilities in the process of policy formulation is of great importance. One of the demonstrations in the conference was to introduce Japanese Prime Minister to persons with disabilities, including some American people with mental impairment. I believe that such an activity in the conference partly led to the formulation of an action plan for improvement of conditions for the disabled.

I, as a member of the House of Representatives, shall be directing all my efforts to pushing the movement towards effective enforcement of national welfare policies. I shall be also working hard to involve persons with disabilities in the process of policy formulation all the way through from their rehabilitation up to their active participation in social activities.

Most important is international solidarity. I would like to call my activity "welfare diplomacy" as I have been consolidating Japan's relationship with Asian countries regarding people with disabilities in Asia-Pacific areas. Such international exchange will surely raise the standard of welfare services in those countries.

We must actualize the society that everyone can live equally in spite of having disability or not. This is an ideology of normalization. Despite the fact that different country are under different circumstances, I believe exchange between persons with disabilities will enhance our learning and will achieve equality in our lives.

There are issues that need urgent attention and action, such as an economic recession and deterioration of environment on a global scale. It is still, however, of prime importance to claim that improvement of lives of persons with disabilities and their participation in society will help to stimulate various aspects of society.