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Miyagi Support Center News "Link (Yui)" No.8, April 30, 2011

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

JDF Headquarters for the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities
Miyagi Support Center
c/o Hagi-no-sato Daini Fukuju-en (New address from May 1)
Taihaku-Ku, Sendai City
TEL/FAX: 022-244-6965
URL: http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/japanese/JDF_shienhonbu.html


A new support extension base was set up in the northern part of Miyagi Prefecture and the full scale visit survey has begun in the Northern area. Reconstructive efforts in the affected area bring gradual change to the betterment, but there is a big gap from place to place. Many of the affected areas were left behind without any support because of difficult access. Miyagi Support Center tries to make visit survey and give support even to such areas actively.

The total of visits (as of April 29, 2011)

  Supporter Shelter Administrative Unit Facility for Disability Related Facility Related Facility Centers for support of persons with disabilities Home or Others
Today 36 8 1 6 0 4
Total 861 504 131 253 96 147

 

Submit the Activity Report to Yamamoto Town Office

Yamamoto Town has also been damaged severely from the Tsunami. JDF Miyagi Support Center began the visit survey in Yamamoto Town from April 14, 2011. The total number of those who got interview is 88. Among them workshop users are 33( 28 persons with disability and 5 family members) and their present status of living is 20 persons at home, 4 persons at shelter, 6 persons at their relative’ s house, and 3 persons at group home. The workshop users and their families have been under uneasy situation physically and psychologically because of the big change of living environment such as change in living space or loss of daily routine work. They are demanding of quick reopening of their workshop.

Under the situation JDF Miyagi Support Center visited Yamamoto Town consecutively to make dialogue with Director of the facility and the related people, the users of the people with disability and their families. Meanwhile a gathering space was formed at the corner of the community center which was used as shelter for survivors. JDF Miyagi Support Center also joined and supported it. On April 28 JDF Miyagi Support Center officially met the President of Social Welfare Council, Yamamoto Town and submitted the survey report on the actual condition. At Present JDF focuses on the activities to meet the needs to reopen the workshop by the users of the people with disability and their families.

Workshop in Yamamoto Town
Photo 1: Workshop in Yamamoto Town

Local center Now

(The total number of the supporters nationwide: 861 as of April 29, 2011)

  • Preparing for moving the Miyagi local center on April 30
  • Data processing, information sharing on visit survey, and manual making for the smooth handing over on May, 1 among supporters from different areas.

Voice from supporters at site

  • Facing the Great Earthquake and Tsunami, I was stunned and couldn’t find the words to express it. The most impressive thing was the smiles on the faces of the affected people at the shelters. How could they keep smiling under such unendurable situation? One person can do little thing. But when each one of us do a little things, by the collective power we can achieve something. I learned it in Miyagi Pref. After going back home, I will keep on doing something I can do for the affected people.
  • I tried not to see the affected people from outside, when I was at site. I will never forget the words of the victims, “If only it is a dream…” I will keep on supporting them.”
  • While the well experienced supporters from Aichi took initiatives to get connections with the local government units, my team made visits intensively. The sites in charge were difficult to get access. We were able to visit shelters in the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant warning zone, and remote villages at the tip of Ojika Peninsula, managing our way through caves-in in the roads or big waves from the sea. Based on the needs we identified, the Self Defense Army and Red Cross medical teams were dispatched there. We were happy that our support was meaningful. We should keep on drawing out the needs of the persons with disability, who are used to be left behind. To expand JDF movement is our mission. Steady and long time involvement will realize the inclusive bright future. Big thanks to my colleges to support me to support them.

The situation of the affected area
Photo2: The situation of the affected area

Activity report

  • April 27(Wed): Data processing from the survey on the damages of Disability Welfare Service Center in Miyagi Prefecture by the Great Earthquake and Tsunami
  • April 28(Thu): Submit the Survey Report on the Actual Condition of the Workshop Users after the Great Earthquake and Tsunami to the Social Welfare Council, Yamamoto Town
    Setting up the new extension base in the northern part of Miyagi Pref.
  • April 29(Fri): Finalization of the Report on Support Activity in Higoshimatsushima City
  • April 30(Sat): Moving the office of JDF Miyagi Support Center

Call for many more supporters to reconstruct the better community life for the persons with disabilities

Translated by Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
Volunteer translator: Ms. Mayumi Yamazaki