Miyagi Support Center News "Link (Yui)" No. 11, May 11th, 2011

"Let's support our fellows in Tohoku with our bonds of friendship and strengths."

Issued by the Miyagi Support Center of the Japan Disability Forum (JDF) HQs for the support of persons with disabilities affected by the East Japan Great Earthquake.

Office: c/o Hagi-no-sato Daini Fukuju-en, Taihaku-ku, Sendai-city
Phone & fax: +81-22-244-6965

We have continued our activities for more than 40 days. The center's activities have come to be recognized in this area considerably. Our connections with people in the community, including the people who called us for the first time and the other people who continued the relations, have been increasing. Supporters are very glad to get acquainted with the people and adversely feel lonely at the parting with them as the supporters change periodically. We, as representatives of the Japan Disability Forum (JDF), will contine to make maximum efforts to response to their needs in future.

Number of visits from Miyagi Support center up to May 10

From the visits' diary

Picture 1: visit to "Earth Village of Workshop", a community workshop in Yamamoto-town

Re-opening of Earth Village in Yamamoto-town!

"Earth Village of Workshop", a community workshop in Yamamoto-town run by the Social Welfare Council of Yamamoto-town was re-opened Monday, May 9. The JDF helped it's re-opening and was able to reach this day. Mr. Kabuki, the center chief, Mr. Nishikawa, the office manager, and two other supporters from the JDF visited there for a celebration.

In response to a telephone call from the local welfare officer in Rifu-town

In morning of one day, we received a telephone call from a local welfare officer who works in Rifu-town, Miyagi-district. What she consulted with us was about some persons with disabilities in the community that she is in charge of. In her community many people still live in their houses which seem to collapse and the persons with disabilities are in the people. In response to this, we had our supporters go to see her quickly. Her delighed face at the meeting with us was so impressive for us. In future, we will ask for her being accompanied with us to pursue appropriate support measures for those four persons with disabilities whose needs for support we recognized this time through interviews with them and discussions with the Rifu-town Social Welfare center staff.

From the local center

• May 7: visit by Mr. Yahata, a board member of the Yume Kaze Foundation; visit by Mr. Akino, a chairman of the Social Welfare Council of the All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union and two other guests; and visit by Ms. Eiko Ishige, a member of the House of Representatives
• May 8: made arrangements for getting additional PCs as we lack for PCs for our office use
• May 10: visit to Yamamoto-town Social Welfare Council and the Earth Village by our office staff
• May 11: attendance to the Information Share Meeting with the Center for Independent Living (CIL) Tasuketto by Mr. Masuda, our office manager; and visits to Ishinomaki Public Health Center and Ishinomaki Support School

Activities of the Miyagi Northern Part Support Center

The followings are the activities of the Northern Part Center that have been in operation since April 28;

• May 7: talked with a person with a psychiatric condition and referred her/him to a counselling office; and supplied a support center for persons with disabilities with necessary supplies and materials
• May 8: excursion to evacuation shelters; visits to future key persons for greetings and hearing the recent situation; and visit to Minami-Sanriku-town office
• May 9: implemented a visiting program to those 5 evacuation shelters where we have not visited yet in Minami-Sanriku-town; and carried necessary supplies and materials to the evacuation shelters

A word from supporters

We came to the Northern Part Support center as the first female supporters since its establishment and began to participate in the survey team consisted of two people of the pair for each team from the next day. It has been very difficult for us to identify the needs of the community as the formal and informal support services and network in the community were totally affected by the disasters. Yet, we were cheered up by the bright and smiling people. (a supporter from Mie Prefecture)

We had a pleasure to witness the re-opening of the "Earth Village of Workshop", a community workshop in Yamamoto-town. We were moved by seeing the smiling people who would benefit from the workshop. Congraturation of the first step! We would like to continue our support together. (a supporter from Tokyo Minicipality)

We need more people to help the persons with disabilities rebuild their lives step by step in the community. Please support our fellows with your contribution!

Volunteers needed as:

1. supporters at the Miyagi Support center: visit to evacuation shelters and support centers/facilities for the disabled for the needs assessments and the support activities depending on the needs,
2. office staff at the Miyagi Support center: telephone consultations, arrangements of the support activities depending on the needs, accounting, administrative managements, public information, report-writing and record managements, and
3. supporters at Miyagi Northern Part Support center: visit evacuation shelters, needs assessments and survey into the whereabouts of people with disabilities in Kesennuma-city and Minami-sanriku-town.

Translated by the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
Volunteer translator: Mr. Isamu Konishi