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Miyagi Support Center News “Yui (Link)” No.51, October 22, 2011

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

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

Offices:
Main Center: 2-12-2 Itsutsubashi, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Tel:+81-80-4373-6077 Fax:+81-22-266-0292
Eastern Area Center: 99-7 Motomachi, Wakuya-cho, Tel:+81-229-43-6639 Fax: +81-229-43-6685

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

  • Number of dialogues with persons with disabilities: 1,573 persons
  • Number of supporters: 778
    (Up to October 21)

Photo1
Photo: (Left) Mr. Suzuki, Director of Support Office, Miyagi Prefecture Support Center
(Right) Mr. Kadoya, Deputy Director, and Mr. Onodera, Senior Official, Disabled Persons Welfare Section, Health and Welfare Department, Miyagi Prefectural Government

Visit to Support Office of Miyagi Prefecture Support Center

 The Miyagi Prefectural Government opened the Support Office of Miyagi Prefecture Support Center (hereinafter referred as “the Support Office”) on September 5 to back up Support Centers in affected cities and towns. On October 19 (Wednesday), the director and 2 officers of JDF Miyagi Support Center visited the Support Office at the 3rd floor of Miyagiken-Shakai-Fukushi-Kaikan near Miyagi Prefectural Government Office. We were told that the Support Office was collecting information on the situation of the Support Centers in cities and towns. One of Support Office’s responsibilities is to train Life Support Advisers (LSA) who are to be hired in each city and town. LSA’s will need a wide range of knowledge and information to support people in temporary houses on their various living needs. The training is planned and managed by the Support Office. Miyagi Prefectural Government contracted the work of the Support Office to Miyagi Prefecture Social Workers Association. However, various organizations including Miyagi Care Managers Association and Sendai Bar Association are assisting the Support Office to back up Support Centers in cities and towns. Mr. Suzuki, the director, have been watching JDF’s activities for victims with disabilities, and he contacted us for collaboration. We are asked to give advice when each Support Center provides consultation concerning persons with disabilities.

Mr. Norimasa Kadoya, deputy director, and Mr. Koki Onodera, senior official of Planning and Promotion Section, of Disabled Persons Welfare Division, Health and Welfare Department of Miyagi Prefectural Government visited us.

They visited JDF Miyagi Support Center for information exchange. Director Kabuki and the Secretary-General explained JDF’s current work such as the transportation support for people in temporary houses to commute to care support centers.


I met smiling Yuki.

Yuki with a big smile
Photo : Yuki with a big smile

I went to a temporary house in Tome-city for transportation support for Mr. Yuki Hoshi, who was going to a place of his apprenticeship “Laborare” (Social Welfare Corporation Fureai-no-Sato in Ishinomaki-city). On the first day, when I said hello to him, he responded with a big smile. His innocent smile was a healing to me. On the afternoon of March 11, Yuki just got on the bus for going home from the school in Kesennuma when tsunami hit Minami-Sanriku-town. He had stay at the school until his father finally arrived there on the next day. His 4 year old house, which was newly built for wheelchair user Yuki, was unfortunately destroyed by tsunami.

After living at several shelters, he finally settled in a temporary house in August. However, the temporary house needed some adjustment for wheelchair. It was the middle of September when he started living there. For study, he moved to Hasama Support High School, and he started his 2 week apprenticeship on October 17. During 20 minute commuting time, he shows great interest on different cars, and tells me the type of each car such as truck, dumper truck and police car. He never fails to notice hydraulic shovel. When I ask him “What would you like to do in the future?”, he smiles and answers “I would like to drive a hydraulic shovel to dig soil.” When I asked “what do you miss the most?”, he instantly and seriously answered “I miss my hydraulic shovel and my friends.” He lost a miniature of hydraulic shovel and school friends. Yuki suffers severe psychological damage from tsunami.

On October 21, Yuki actively participated in Laborare’s sports event ‘Laborare Olympics’. He will spend one more week at Laborare for apprenticeship. He has just made his first step for his invaluable future. Smiling Yuki and serious Yuki. I wonder how he would receive me when I meet him next time. (A supporter, from Tokyo)


A supporter from Aichi prefecture
Photo:A supporter from Aichi prefecture

I was just surprised at the reality of affected areas when I came here from Aichi Prefecture. However, I gradually found that people were making steps to recovery. Many volunteers from all over Japan are working in Sizukawa area of Minami-Sanriku town to remove debris. At Bayside Arena where the temporary town hall of Minami-Sanriku town is located, there are many tents for volunteers staying for a long time. I am really grateful for their work for Japan. People in the affected areas are reopening shops in prefabrication buildings. A saury boiled in soy sauce at a fish shop near Minami-Sanriku town Bayside Area was great! And at the container village in Onagawa town, there are not only household goods shops but also restaurants and pubs. I am eating tasty foods in Sanriku, saying to myself that enjoying local delicacies contributes affected area’s recovery by stimulating the local economy.

(A supporter, from Aichi Prefecture)


A supporter from Saitama prefecture
Photo:A supporter from Saitama prefecture

When I was relaxing at a hot spring after work, a man living nearby shared his situation. He said that his earthquake insurance covered only a half although his building was totally damaged, and he wanted any employment opportunity whatever it was. He also showed empathy for vulnerable people including persons with disabilities and elderly persons when he got to know our activities. I have been involved in support for a girl with disabilities. At first, she had a difficult time such as running away from home or going into panics. However, she gradually got familiar with different supporters including “her big sister from Shiga”, and now her situation has calmed down. I was moved by her day-by-day growth.

Even after 7 months have passed since the earthquake, the devastation of the seaside areas is beyond description. But many people are struggling for their living in large affected areas. While staying there for a week, I was thinking that I would search what I can do and support JDF’s activities so that the recovery could be realized without cutting down such people’s thoughts.

(A supporter, from Saitama Prefecture)


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