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Miyagi Support Center News "Link (Yui)"No. 24, June 29, 2011

“Let’s support our fellows in Tohoku with our bonds of friendship and strengths!”

Issued by Miyagi Support Center of Japan Disability Forum (JDF) Headquarters for Support of Persons with Disabilities affected by the East Japan Great Earthquake

Offices:
Miyagi Support Center
c/o Hagi-no-sato, Fukushi-kojo, Taihaku-ku, Sendai-shi
Phone: +81-80-4373-6077
Fax: +81-22-244-6965

Miyagi Northern Area Support Center
c/o Wakaba-en, Towa-cho, Tome-shi
Phone: +81-90-8349-9403
Fax: +81-220-45-2223

Website: http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/resource/tohoku_earthquake.html

“Toward the “Inclusive Society”, where anyone can work, live and connect with each other as human beings without prejudice”

As a Starting Point for Rebirth

We are asked, “What can JDF Support Center do for us? We cannot tell about the center to persons with disabilities unless its activities are not clear to me.”
This earthquake caused tremendous sufferings to the people of the coast of eastern Japan, and many volunteers are working in the affected areas. However, it is the local people who stand up from this terrible situation. Persons with disabilities and their families are no exceptions. Our role as JDF is to work in the backyard. We support for affected people to walk independently. As someone working in the disability welfare sector, we aim for not only their recovery from this earthquake but also the construction of community where they can live as human beings. Requests such as “Please do this.” rather than questions such as “What can you do?” would give us even more strength. (By Isobe, Chief of secretariat of the 14th crew)

Footprints of Support

People’s lives are gradually changing after 3 months since the earthquake. Although the persons with disabilities we related to are not many, we hope they can return to their previous lives as soon as possible through our work on their individual needs as well as supports step by step.

JDF visited 1,400 persons with disabilities: number of visits from Miyagi Support Center up to June 23

“Support each other in the area”

Support for Kaze-no-sato (a consultation support worker, Social Welfare Corporation Senshin-kai, Minami-sanriku-cho)

A health personnel said, “Before the disaster occurred, we could buy everything we need at shops in our area. Persons with disabilities have lived in safety under the supports of the local people. Even if some persons with disabilities picked field products without permission, the owners didn’t blame them.”
The disaster hit the kind of area. JDF continues the support activities for affected people, such as helping out with shopping, offering necessities, taking to welfare workshops and hospitals, to recover their normal lives.

“To recover the normal workplace”

Support for SAKURA-sakura (Social Welfare Corporation Yumemi-no-sato)

The young staffs in the welfare corporation work so hard since two colleagues left there because of the disaster. They couldn’t manage their normal jobs because they had to also handle additional works, such as coordination of volunteer staffs. Therefore, JDF supporters started helping them with their works from June 21.

“Look at inland areas too.”

Support for Yui (a consultation support worker, Social Welfare Corporation Keisen-kai, Tome-shi)

“The affected areas are not only in the coast but also in inland areas. That’s what I want people to know. More than 500 people moved to Tome-shi from Minami-sanriku-cho.” The damages in inland areas are less serious than in coast areas. However, there are needs such as supports for a person with mental disorders who has problems in family relationships due to the earthquake, supports for people from coast areas to find temporary houses or apartments. Consultation supporters of Yui have joined the visit survey which began on 20th of June in Ishinomaki-shi. JDF supporters have been supporting Yui since 13th of June (Monday) so that they can get back to normal work.

“After all, I want to return.”

Ogawara-cho is about an hour to the west of Sendai. Mrs. W lives in 2 bed room apartment with her husband with physical impairments and their son with autism in his late twenties. They found that apartment after drifting from one place to another in the town, thinking that their son cannot stay at crowded shelters. She kept talking many stories for two hours, such as; what happened on the day of the earthquake, how the tsunami destroyed their house which they have just repaid loan, how they evacuated with their son. Time passed so quickly, and Mrs. W said, “I feel so refreshed now.” She shared her feeling, telling me as “After all, I want to return.”

Number of supporters up to June 29: 623

The 14th crew (24 persons in total: 14 in Headquarters, 10 in Northern Area Center) is working in this week. DPOs, getting together at JDF and passing the torch one after another, will provide continued support.

Comments by members

  • I joined the crew, hoping to turn the light inside the suffered persons with disabilities and their families as well as workers of affected facilities. (a supporter from Aichi)
  • The devastation of Minami-sanriku-cho and Kesennuma-shi is so shocking and indescribable that my arms trembled. It also made my determination stronger toward the recovery of Tohoku Region by any means. I believe that my role here is to support the recovery with utmost effort. (a supporter from Tokyo)

We are grateful to Daido Life Insurance Company for their donation of goods.

Change in address

Headquarters Office moved from Hagi-no-sato Dai-ni-fukuju-en to Hagi-no-sato Fukushi-kojo in the same site.

We need more supporters for the following activities.

  1. Visits to detect and respond to needs
  2. Office work including telephone consultation, needs coordination, accounting, logistical work, clerical work, coordination of supporters and cars, public relations and others
    Place: Miyagi Support Center (in Sendai-shi), Miyagi Northern Area Support Center (in Tome-shi) We are waiting for your call.

Translated by Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
Volunteer translator: Mr. Shintaro Nakamura