Goh Ishibashi

I was diagnosed with Epilepsy and Pervasive Developmental Disorder at an early age. I continue to receive medication for Epilepsy, and as long as I take my medication correctly, I do not experience seizures and can lead a normal daily life. After being diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, I had been living for about 30 years without paying much attention to it.

From April of the 4th year of Reiwa (2022) for one year, I underwent vocational training at the Osaka City Vocational Rehabilitation Center (referred to as Vocational Rehabilitation below). Prior to enrollment, I had been changing jobs every three months or so. This led to feelings of urgency to find employment quickly, as well as anxieties about whether I could work for a long time after getting a job, or if I would wind up quitting soon after. As I attended classes and followed the curriculum at Vocational Rehabilitation, I gradually became aware of issues in how I interacted with others and my tendencies toward certain tasks.

One of the curriculum components of Vocational Rehabilitation is a subject called Assertiveness. I had never heard of the term "assertiveness" until I enrolled. Assertiveness is a communication method that respects the thoughts and feelings of both you and the other person. The curriculum helped me to confront my past experiences, recalling instances where I had disregarded others or suppressed my own feelings. Reflecting on these experiences allowed me to understand my tendencies in interacting with people and learn how to create a mutually comfortable environment. In a workplace, one cannot avoid interacting with others within the organization. Learning to respect both parties' feelings and creating a harmonious atmosphere became a valuable lesson for smooth interpersonal relationships, even after employment.

During the year of Vocational Rehabilitation, we spent time with the same members, all of whom were moving toward the goal of finding employment. Among them were individuals who shared similarities with me, as well as those with vastly different perspectives and sensibilities. While interacting with these individuals, I encountered situations where things did not go as planned, tensions arose, or I felt drained for no apparent reason. Before enrolling, I simply thought "This is tough" when facing such situations and did not seriously address them. While learning about communication, I received advice such as "be mindful that being frustrated affects those around you" and "consider whether the timing is right for the question you're asking." I also realized things that might be hard for me to notice on my own, like being told "You might not realize when you're tired" from a third-person perspective, which I found to be a valuable opportunity.

Furthermore, when I learn from others, I am filled with the feeling that I must do it right. I hadn't realized that I had a tendency to pressure myself to learn everything perfectly all at once until it was pointed out to me. Based on this realization, I consulted with others and developed strategies, such as taking notes slowly, using a timer to take mandatory breaks, and changing locations to take breaks. These strategies have enabled me to learn more effectively. One more thing I learned for the first time since coming to Vocational Rehabilitation is the concept of company internships before starting a job. It was very reassuring to be able to experience the job content, work environment, and relationships after informing the employer of the worker’s characteristics beforehand, rather than finding out after starting the job whether or not it would be a good fit.

Individuals with developmental disorders often face difficulties in workplace environments and relationships. To anticipate and prevent such challenges, it is essential for employees to understand their own tendencies, reflect on them, and discover strategies in collaboration with third parties. Through this, I believe that long-term employment relationships can be sustained, allowing individuals to live one’s own and engage in societal activities.