Japanese Survey Reveals Weak Supports for Life in the Community(May 2003)

A phenomenon (and problem) unique to Japan

Although Japan is a fully developed industrial and technological country, facility levels for disabled people are extremely low. The following facts explain the reason for this situation clearly:

• there is a problem with "social hospitalization" - the practice of hospitalizing people at mental hospitals for long periods for no compelling medical reason. The number of such cases is very large and never decreases. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 72,000 out of 330,000 patients at hospital psychiatric wards are socially hospitalized. Other research by relevant academic institutions shows that this number is actually over 100,000.
• There is a policy problem. The importance of residential care facilities for disabled people has been over-emphasized so that the number of these facilities increases unnecessarily. The number of adults with intellectual disabilities who are living at such facilities is 130,000; more than 40%.
• There are 6,000 illegal or unauthorized small-scale 'workshops' in Japan. Over the past 20 years the number has been growing by around 200 a year.
• In 25 years since the establishment of law addressing disabled employment the minimum mandated employment quota requirements for the private sector have never been met. The employment rate for disabled persons in 2002 was 1.47%, compared with the minimum statutory employment rate of 1.8%.

The common problem is that no full-scale measure has been taken to support community life for disabled adults. More specifically, community social resources, mainly in the area of social welfare and vocational rehabilitation, are severely lacking. Discharges from mental hospitals are delayed, and persons with intellectual disabilities cannot return from care facilities to the community, largely because of an insufficient quantity of community resources. The common opinion among parties concerned (including the government)is that unauthorized small workshops are increasing because of this lack of institutionalized community social resources. The low employment rate further narrows the potential for community living.

Complete Enumeration Survey by Private Organizations - Targeting Municipal Government

There is a clear indication that community social resources are suffering, but the precise status is not clear, because national research has never been conducted. Private organizations such as KYOSAREN have targeted this area, looking specifically at workshops, sheltered workshops, and activities to support the community life of disabled people.

Their survey covered all levels of municipal government, and the amount of data collected was extremely large. The survey was carried out between April 26 and September 30, 2002, covering all 3246 cities, wards, towns and villages in Japan. A questionnaire was sent to governments by mail, and collected by mail or FAX. A telephone interview was later conducted with more than 200 municipal governments that had failed to return the questionnaire. Altogether KYOSAREN was able to achieve a 100% response rate.

Summary of Survey Results

1. Cities, wards, towns or villages with no day-care facilities/business offices to support community life: 14.5%
2. Cities, wards, towns and villages with no group homes: 73%
3. Municipalities that have no social welfare facilities for persons with psychiatric disorders: 89%
4. More social resources in urban areas than rural areas

Little hope for the new plan for persons with disabilities

Above is an outline of the current status and characteristics of social resources for persons with disabilities. It indicates a serious situation.

At the end of 2002, the government announced new plans for persons with disabilities as part of the administrative goal for the fiscal year 2003-2007. Although the plan attracted attention from all parties concerned, the numerical targets for the five years fell considerably short of their expectations and needs.

For the time being, we would like to develop our own counter-proposal in co-operation with other private organizations, and request that the government raise the figures of the numerical targets based on this. In the mid/long term, a large-scale reform involving both the government and private sector will be necessary, because the current social resource-related system needs improvement in terms of quantity and quality.

About KYOSAREN

Organized in 1977; consists of unauthorized, small workshops and sheltered workshops with a current membership of 1500; Headquarters in Nakano-ku, Tokyo; the number of staff members: 15 (as of April 1, 2003). Research was titled "Survey on Provision of Social Resources Targeting Persons with Disabilities."

For further information about this report, please contact Ryouhei Sanor-sano@kyosaren.or.jp.