On January 18^th, 2021, Prime Minister Suga delivered a policy speech to the 204th session of the Diet at the plenary session of the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors. During the speech, he referred to a couple of points related to persons with disabilities as follows.

• About digital transformation
  • “By providing reliable support for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and even those who are unaccustomed to digital tools, we will create a society where everyone can fully enjoy the benefits of digital transformation.”
• Social security reforms
  • Starting in April, we will raise payments for services such as nursing care and welfare services for people with disabilities and provide support for advancing digital transformation and introducing nursing care robots. We will promote safe and secure social services by improving the benefits for care workers in the frontline and increasing productivity”
  • We have launched assistance support for people with severe disabilities working in workplace or at home. We will encourage municipalities to make further use of this service and make it available to those who need it. We will request private-sector companies to give reasonable consideration to people with disabilities. We will create a society in which people with disabilities and those suffering from intractable diseases can fully demonstrate their ability and utilize their originality in playing an active role.

The full speech can be found on the following website (English available): https://japan.kantei.go.jp/99_suga/statement/202101/_00013.html