Miyagi Support Center News "Link (Yui)" No.10, May 7th, 2011

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

Issued by the Miyagi Support Center of the Japan Disability Forum (JDF) HQs for the support of persons with disabilities affected by the East Japan Great Earthquake.

Office: c/o Hagi-no-sato Daini Fukuju-en, Taihaku-ku, Sendai-city
Phone and fax: +81-22-244-6965

We have continued our activities over the Golden Week Holiday gathering and sharing information, responding to people’s needs in various ways. Our increasing connections and people-to-people bonds are the cornerstones of our support activities.

Number of visits from Miyagi Support center up to May 6

From the visits’ diary

• Survey into the whereabouts of people in Natori-city. 220 out of 360 persons’ safety was established. We discovered that persons with disabilities (wheelchair users) did not receive sufficient food supplies or had ended up bed-bound. We have informed local organizations who were not aware of these people’s daily life situation and measures for improvement will be implemented.
• Supported participants with adequate clothing for the opening ceremony of a sheltered workshop (Yamamoto town).
• Helped a person with a psychiatric condition with registration as ‘disaster-victim’ and to move personal belongings to the security of the shelter. Working with local primary health nurses this person now also has someone to talk and consult with. (Ishinomaki-city)

From the office

May 4: visit from the President of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf. Discussed that the deaf could not hear the tsunami warnings that were broadcasted over the speakers and needs for living in shelters.

Picture 1 :Mr. Ishino, president of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf, and Mr. Kabuki form JDF

May 4: visit from the Osaka branch of the trade union of workers in welfare and child care

May 6: visit to Yamamoto-town (see above)

May 6: visit from Yamato Welfare Foundation

May 6: meeting for the preparation of the 3rd Information Share Meeting

A word from volunteers

• We came from Osaka and it was already worthwhile to help an individual by providing a listening ear to this person’s story of being injured in the earthquake and having one’s first floor washed away.
• I came from Okinawa and experienced the importance of JDF’s activities for persons with disability and their family. Let’s continue to help them to give it their all with vigor in overcoming this disaster.
• I could not belief the scale of the distraction. Indeed, no matter how little, each and every one of us in Japan is needed to help the people rebuild as soon as possible.

There are still many many who need support.
We need people with cars who can support our work!!!

Translated by Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
Volunteer translator: Mr. Peter Bontje