VI. General Policy Direction for Strategies in Each Field
Living in Communities as Ordinary Citizens

VI. General Policy Direction for Strategies in Each Field

Living in Communities as Ordinary Citizens

1. The Securing of Housing and Work Place and Place for Activity

(1) Promoting Housing Development

• Specifications for all newly-built public rental housing should take into consideration an aging society with fragile body functions, e.g., by eliminating steps. Such specifications are to be incorporated wherever possible into housing improvements as well.

• Active promotion of prioritized supply of public rental housing to persons with disabilities and others in order to stabilize housing for those in need of housing.

• Propagation of the "Housing Design Guidelines in the Society of Longevity" to promote the construction of private-sector housing that is comfortable for persons with disabilities. Also, the use of public finance and other systems in promoting the acquisition of housing conforming to specifications suited to a society of longevity, and the construction and the renovation of housing that caters to the needs of persons with physical disabilities.

• The provision of 20,000 persons at Group Homes (housing with lifestyle support functions) and Welfare Homes within the period of the Action Plan to meet demands.

• The promotion of construction of publicly operated housing for the households of persons with disabilities and/or public housing complexes that have welfare facilities jointly. Also, the supply of quality housing tailored to the characteristics and needs of different groups of persons with disabilities to be promoted by utilizing publicly operated housing as Group Homes.

• The incorporation of items regarding public rental housing for persons with disabilities into housing Master Plans drawn up by local governments in order to promote the supply of housing that caters to the needs of persons with disabilities.

• The promotion of construction of company dormitories for persons with mental retardation in order to ease their transition into life in the local community.

(2) Securing Places for Work and Activity in consideration of special needs

• The provision of 68,000 persons at sheltered workshops and welfare factories for persons with disabilities within the period of the Action Plan to meet the needs.

• The conversion of non-authorized small workshops to approved facilities by utilizing the branch system of sheltered workshops and also by expanding day care services. Also, financial assistance measures to be expanded to promote stable management.

2. The Establishment of a Care and Nurturing System for Children with Disabilities in Communities

• The expansion of the functions of facilities that serve as a regional base for the caring and nurturing of children with disabilities in each prefecture, to enable instruction by professionals and other activities related to the caring and nurturing of children with disabilities. Where local governments provide related regional services such as day care programs for children with disabilities, the provision of instruction and support for these services by such as day care centers for children with disabilities to the level of two centers per 300,000 persons (target figure).

• The revision of day care centers for children with mental and/or physical disabilities to Prevent overemphasis on the type of disability.

• The establishment of 1,300 following centers (target figure) to enable children with disabilities living at home to commute to nearby locations: small-scale day care centers for children with disabilities, utilizing the space of day care centers and similar facilities, and day care projects for children with severe physical and mental disabilities.

3. Expanding Programs on Health, Medical Care and Welfare for Persons with Mental Disabilities

(1) Promoting Social Rehabilitation and Expanding Welfare Programs

• The provision of training facilities for daily life (assisted dormitories) for persons with mental disabilities for approximately 6,000 persons (target figure), and social adaptation training programs (such as Group Homes, Welfare Homes, sheltered workshops and welfare factories for persons with disabilities) for approximately 5,000 persons (target figure) within the period of the Action Plan.

• The promotion of the development of social rehabilitation facilities and the strengthening of such functions.

• The provision of services designed to provide support for the daily life of persons with mental disabilities in their local communities, as well as everyday consultation and exchanges with other persons in the local comunity, to be carried out at the level of two centers per 300,000 persons (target figure).

• The expansion of local health and welfare programs for persons with mental disabilities including: expansion of counseling and instruction from Mental Health and Welfare Centers and Public Health Centers; support for family groups and patient groups; expansion of the services of the Center for Promoting the Social Rehabilitation of Persons with Mental Disabilities and expansion of welfare services based on welfare certificates.

• The expansion of training for social rehabilitation (giving careful consideration to the individual characteristics of persons with mental disabilities), and cooperation with employment policies in order to develop social independence by promoting the transition from training to employment.

(2) Improvement of Psychiatric Medical Services

• The establishment of the system of psychiatric emergency medical services where psychiatric medical services are to be provided during nights and weekends.

• The development of the system of psychiatric medical services in which treatment for complications and other symptoms is properly provided, with consideration of the rights of persons with mental disabilities.

• The provision of 1,000 psychiatric day care centers (target figure) during the period of the Action Plan for the purposes of providing medical rehabilitation programs to promote social rehabilitation.

• The improvement of the medical treatment environment by modernizing the facilities of mental hospitals.

• The advancement of a multi-faceted investigation into the most appropriate form of medical treatment for long-term patients, to enable long-term patients to enjoy reliable and high-quality medical treatment.

4. Expanding Care and Other Services

(1) Developing a Service Supply System

• The establishment of service supply systems at the municipal level, to ensure the proper provision of home help services to those requiring nursing care or support, taking into account the special needs of persons with disabilities (such as guide help for persons with visual impairments), and to enable those in need of day care services or short-term stays, or those needing to stay at residential facilities.

(2) Expanding In-home Services

• The provision of 4,500 home helpers (target figure), 1,000 day care service centers (target figure) and 4,500 persons in short-term stay (target figure) during the period of the Action Plan.

• The utilization of professional staff and other specialist functions of facilities to expand support functions for the local region.

• The expansion of the provision of care services for persons with physical disabilities living in public housing, welfare homes and similar facilities.

(3) Expanding Institutional Services

• The provision of residential facilities as a place for daily life and care and nurturing for persons with severe disabilities to meet their welfare and medical needs while giving consideration to the regional balance. In particular, the provision of 25,000 persons (target figure) at nursing homes for persons with severe physical disabilities and 9,500 persons capacity (target figure) at rehabilitation facilities for persons with mental retardation within the period of the Action Plan, to eliminate shortages of accommodation capacity for persons with disabilities on standby at home.

• The promotion of the provision of individual rooms at residential facilities and other measures designed to secure privacy and quality of life.

• The active introduction of nursing care equipment and other assistive devices to promote the modernization of the functions of facilities and the strengthening of support functions for independence.

• The qualitative improvement of relief facilities where large numbers of persons with disabilities are accommodated.

(4) Responding to Aging and Increasing Severity of Condition and Boosting the Quality of Services

• The expansion of programs for persons with severe and/or multiple disabilities in need of constant care. Also, the promotion of survey research to enable an appropriate response to the various problems associated with the aging of persons with disabilities and their families.

• To make the guidelines to provide the appropriate care and other services tailored to individual needs of persons with disabilities themselves.

• To promote research and development in areas such as medical treatment and functional training that enables persons with disabilities to regain and acquire ADL functions, and social functional training tailored to the age and other attributes of persons with disabilities.

5. Establishing Comprehensive Support Structures

• The provision of two centers per 300,000 people (target figure) to provide guidance, counseling, support and information services to persons with disabilities within the local community.

• The training of professional staff to provide guidance and counseling and to coordinate the needed services for persons with disabilities.

• The further expansion of medical rehabilitation services at medical facilities, and the securing of proper medical care for persons with disabilities including dental care.

• The development of a system of comprehensive rehabilitation services through the integrated linking of counseling and evaluation functions, institutional functions and medical care functions.

6. Promoting Appropriate Siting for Welfare Facilities

• The promotion of constructing the facilities jointly with or attached to other health and welfare facilities (such as facilities for the elderly) and local public facilities.

• The planned encouragement of appropriate siting for welfare facilities such as day care service centers and rehabilitation facilities in conjunction with land readjustment, urban renewal, other work related to town planning and active promotion of construction of public housing complexes that have joint welfare facilities.

• The prioritized promotion of the development of walking spaces in the vicinity of welfare facilities and medical facilities that are easy for persons with disabilities to use.

7. Reviewing the System of Facilities for Persons with Disabilities and Promoting Comprehensive Use of Facilities and Services

• The conducting of a review of the system of facilities for persons with disabilities to promote integration of facilities, taking into consideration type and degree of disability and age, in order to enable the effective provision of facility functions within the local area and to accurately meet the needs of persons with disabilities.

• The promotion of comprehensive use of facilities related to persons with disabilities, taking into consideration type and degree of disability and age. Also, the promotion of joint use of services such as those for the elderly.

8. Promoting Participation in Community Life

• The implementation of work designed to provide the necessary support for participation in community life by persons with disabilities, based on the local municipalities closest to persons with disabilities, including services to support mobility (such as the operation of welfare buses), the provision of sign-language interpreters, the distribution of information bulletins in Braille and other services to secure communication, to the level of one unit per approximately 50,000 people, within the period of the Action Plan.

• The advancement of a guide helper network for persons with visual disabilities to facilitate mobility over long distances, training for guide dogs, support for activities for participation in community life for persons with mental retardation.

9. Training and Securing Personnel

• The planned training and securing of home helpers, staff at various facilities, professional staff and other workers in the community. Also, a quantitative and qualitative expansion of human resources in the field of rehabilitation such as occupational therapists and physical therapists.

• The expansion of training programs for home helpers to enable them to respond to the special needs of persons with disabilities.

• The improvement of a workplace environment for health and welfare personnel, and the stable securing of high-quality human resources via the automation of clerical work, shortening of working hours, and expansion of fringe benefits and recreational services provided by employers.

• The training and securing of volunteers for Braille transcription, tape recording, sign language interpreters and others with professional knowledge and skills.

• An investigation into the qualifications for psychiatric social workers and clinical psychologist.

10. A System of Health and Welfare Services Based Around the Municipality

• The construction of a stratified network by clarifying the division of functions among regions (municipality, wide-area region encompassing several municipalities, prefecture) and developing a variety of services in a spatial and planned manner.

• An investigation into making local government the principle organ responsible for making decisions about and implementing services for children with disabilities and persons with mental retardation.

• The expansion of prefectural programs in areas such as social rehabilitation and welfare services for persons with mental disabilities, along with investigation into enhancing the role of local government in these services.

• The advancement of the implementation of the Provision of regional services by promoting cooperation and tie-ups between neighboring municipalities and developing a structure to link up with prefectures and other bodies.

• At the prefectural level, the expansion of work in highly specialized fields or fields that span large geographical areas, including support for municipalities, coordination among municipalities, and the development of a structure for mental health care.

11. Investigating the Guardianship System

• An investigation into the so-called guardianship system, designed primarily to manage the assets and advocate the rights of persons with mental disabilities, persons with mental retardation and demented elderly persons.

12. Income Security

• A wide-ranging investigation into the problem of persons who are not entitled to disability pension, in the context of the pension system overall, including the question of whether to treat the disability pension as part of the pension system or as a welfare measure.

13. Care Services for Persons with Intractable Diseases

• The advancement of the provision of home help services and other appropriate nursing care services for persons with intractable diseases.

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The Government Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities
— A SEVEN-YEAR NORMALIZATION STRATEGY —
Tentative Edition in English

Translated by
the Secretariat of the Headquarter
for Promoting the Welfare of Disabled Persons,
Prime Minister's Office

6-1, Nagatacho 1-chome,
Chiyoda-ku, TOKYO, 100
JAPAN