Attention Shifts to Group Homes for Intellectually Disabled Individuals (July 2003)

Recently, even in Japan, instead of living in uniformly-set housing facilities, group homes where individuals can enjoy leading self-oriented lifestyles are starting to gain attention.

However, Japan faces the present reality that local autonomies supporting group home facilities only comprise of a mere 15% (from studies conducted in 2002). A factor contributing to such a low figure is the skepticism held by the public, including the families themselves, of whether group homes where people with intellectual disabilities lead self-oriented lifestyles at their own pace can indeed be actualized. This article describes the endeavors undertaken by the social welfare organization, Ashikaga Mutsumi Group. This organization has managed to set up group homes in the city of Ashikaga where they are being naturally received by the community.

Donald & Daisy

Hiroshi Ayuha, the facility President of the Ashikaga Mutsumi Group, had long wanted to enable the provision of a living environment in the community where people with intellectual disabilities could lead self-directed lifestyles like individuals without disabilities do. Mr. Ayuha has an elder brother with Down syndrome, and thus was exploring ways with his family to support his brother to lead a full life. In 1990, the Ayumi Home was set up as a group home for people with intellectual disabilities. In 1995, he traveled to Sweden and Holland to visit the group homes there and was amazed at what he saw. In both countries, people with intellectual disabilities who were thought to face communicational difficulties were living in group homes where each individual led one's own self-directed lifestyle, naturally blending in the community.

Privacy and individuality preserved

Mr. Ayuha ascertained that his way of thinking was not in the wrong direction. Though the setting up of the group home was initially met with apprehensions over possible problematic occurrences, the Ayumi Home turned out to be a success. This led to the founding of the next group homes, "Daisy" and "Donald" where attention is placed on the individual's life. Four male and four female individuals live in each of the group homes. Among the male residents, one with the highest level of intellectual severity, is included in the group. Wide-ranging ideas are being put into practice in order to actualize further comfort in life. Needless to mention, each individual is entitled to one's own room, and each room is uniquely designed according to the individual's preferences with furnishings and interior objects of one's liking.

For members who have walking disabilities, the bath and toilet facilities are separated for spacious usage. The group housing is fully equipped with air-conditioning facilities, and aside from the common-use kitchen, a mini-kitchen and a refrigerator is made available in each individual room. There is no need for concern of fire outbreaks as electromagnetic cookware is being used. Ample space is also available for when family members visit and stay over. Though live-in staff supervisors are present, they interfere as little as possible. Matters such as how to spend the free available time after dinner or deciding on one's sleeping hours are all left to the individuals themselves. Meal plans are also decided through discussions, and at times, the group house members take on what they can do. Members living in this group home voice out that "life here is enjoyable since we can do as we wish."

Believing in the members' capabilities

What does it mean to better the quality of living for people with intellectual disabilities? We individuals learn how to fit in society as we grow into adults. We find appropriately-fitting jobs, work, and become independent. And once we reach a senior age, we retire and spend life in tranquility. Wouldn't it be an ideal society if people with disabilities and those without could all enjoy such a natural life cycle? Members living in the group home go to work during the day, undertaking appropriately-fitting jobs.

At the Ashikaga Mutsumi Group, easy-to-understand brochures incorporating many illustrations are available, introducing the center's services in an in-depth manner to the applicant and family. Each family's requests and future desires are taken into consideration to formulate a living plan fit for the individual. The individual can choose a job according to one's preference from among the various available. Further, when the individual receives a paycheck, he/she is accompanied by a staff supervisor to open a bank account into which the individual saves a set amount every month. With such savings, members go out on a shopping excursion twice a year. Members are free to purchase what they want. Staff supervisors will not give them any advice. Members thus gradually learn the value of money.

Though support is always provided, the basis is to believe in the members' capabilities and respect each individual's sense of value or lifestyle. The members' parents, despite their initial concerns upon having their children live in the group home, are taken by surprise at how few the problems are. Mr. Ayuha, except for when in need of hospitalization due to sickness, attributes this group home as being a place where individuals can live as long as they wish while maintaining a good quality life.

Working towards normalization

Though this is the goal, there are issues that need to be overcome in order to be able to live blending in within the community. First, there is a need to discard the fixed idea held by the community, including the parents themselves, consisting of doubtful sentiments of whether people with intellectual disabilities could actually live independently in group homes. To achieve such communal consensus, it is necessary to spread the success of these group homes and instill widespread social recognition. Second, there is a need for reorientation on the administrative side. In order to enable the concerned individuals lead a self-oriented life, supervisory staff support is indispensable. The administrative side must realize the need for such human resources and hasten the establishment of a system where thorough and attentive services can be provided. Even in Japan, we must shift in transforming all residential care facilities to group home-oriented houses in the future. To work towards normalization, it is very important to actualize a society where people with intellectual disabilities, as members of the community, can lead self-oriented and rich lifestyles.

Compiled and translated by the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities (JSRPD)