Laws on Disabilities "The 38 Selected Japanese Laws Related to Persons with Disabilities"
3. Support for Independence and Participation in Society
Law 2.
Social Welfare Services Law (1951, Law No. 45)→Social Welfare Law (amended in 2000)
The law sets down the basic conditions for welfare services so that welfare programs can be properly implemented. This legislation also provides for the establishment of social welfare offices and social welfare juridical persons and the contents of their programs, as well as the qualification of services providers, such as social welfare officers. Under a major revision of the law in 2000, its name was changed and additional provisions were made, such as protection of the rights of service users.
Law 3.
Law for the Welfare of the Physically Disabled (1949, Law No. 283)→Law for the Welfare of Physically Disabled Persons
The following are provided to promote the independence and participation in society of persons with physical disabilities.
- Certificate of Persons with Physical Disability.
- Various counseling services.
- Grant of prosthetic appliances (prosthesis and orthosis), such as wheelchairs, canes, hearing aids, and artificial limbs.
- Community services, such as home helper, day care, and short stay programs.
- Technical aids for daily living, such as bathtubs, toilet facilities, beds, and communication aids (personal computers, tape recorders for the blind, and other devices).
- Rehabilitation services.
- Services necessary for participation in society, such as sign language interpreters, translation into Braille, guide helpers, and modification of motor vehicles
- Work opportunities.
- Specialized facilities for nursing care.
- Place for living.
Information and consultations on the above services are available at the Section of Welfare Services for Persons with Disabilities in local government offices that oversee welfare services for individuals with disabilities. Each local government has counselors for persons with physical disabilities, who are appointed by the prefectural governor. Rehabilitation centers for persons with disabilities can be found in all prefectures and specially designated cities.
Law 4.
Child Welfare Law (1947, Law No. 164)The law protects the human rights of all children and aims at their healthy upbringing. Services like health examinations and guidance on medical and educational care, early intervention, medical treatment, prosthesis and orthosis, specialized nonresidential facilities and facilities for education and care, and public assistance institutions are provided for children with disabilities. Information and consultation services are available at Social Welfare Offices, Child Guidance Centers, Public Health Centers in cities, prefectures, and specially designated cities.
Law 5.
Law for the Welfare of Mentally Retarded Persons (1960, Law No. 37)→Law for the Welfare of Intellectually Disabled Persons (amended in 1999)
This law provides for necessary support and protection in the aim of promoting the independence and participation in society of persons with intellectual disabilities.
- Specialized counseling provided by Social Welfare Offices and Rehabilitation Consultation Centers for Persons with Intellectual Disability.
- Various training programs for independence.
- Community services, such as home helper, day care, and short stay programs.
- Technical aids for daily living, such as electric toothbrushes, special type mats, and automatic fire extinguishers.
- Welfare homes, group homes, and other such arrangements.
- Residential facilities for rehabilitation, nonresidential facilities, and other such facilities. The Certificate of Persons with Intellectual Disability is issued to enable quick access to various services. Information and consultation services are available at Social Welfare Offices in cities and prefectures and Rehabilitation Consultation Centers for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities as well as the sections in local government offices that oversee welfare services for individuals with disabilities. All local governments have counselors for persons with intellectual disabilities, who have been appointed by the prefectural governor. For information on welfare services for persons with psychiatric disabilities, please see the next section, on Law 6.
Law 6.
Mental Hygiene Law (1950, Law No. 123)→Mental Health Law (amended in 1987)
→Law Concerning Mental Health and Welfare for Mentally Disabled Persons (amended in 1995)
The law provides necessary support for persons with mental disabilities, including medical treatment, protection and prevention, and promotion of reintegration, independent living, and participation in society. It also aims to improve the mental health of the public. The main measures are as follows:
- Establishment of Metal Health and Welfare Centers in all prefectures.
- Establishment of prefectural mental hospitals and designation of private hospitals.
- Issuance of the Certificate of Persons with Psychiatric Disability.
- Establishment of institutions for rehabilitation.
- (1) Daily life adjustment training facilities
- (2) Sheltered workshops
- (3) Welfare homes
- (4) Industrial workshops
- (5) Community Life Support Centers
- Entrustment of occupational training programs to enterprises.
- Designation of Social Participation Promotion Centers.
- Supplement of medical fees by government funds.
Information and consultation services on the above are provided at Public Health Centers and Mental Health and Welfare Centers at prefecture level. Counselors for Mental Health and Welfare are placed in all prefectures. With its amendment in 1995, the legislation was renamed and additional provisions were made, including the establishment of a system of designated psychiatrists for mental health and welfare, a notification requirement for compulsory hospitalization, issuance of the Certificate of Persons with Psychiatric Disability, and establishment of rehabilitation centers.
Law 7.
Law for Special Aid to Wounded and Sick Veterans (1963, Law No. 168)
The law provides for such measures as medical treatment and allowances for wounded and sick veterans, who were injured or fell ill in their line of official duty and have a disability at present. A disability pension is provided in line with the degree of disability. As of July 2004, 2,942 veterans were receiving disability pension benefits.