Ten participants visited Genkimura (‘Genki’ means vigor and ‘mura’ means village) to learn about the current situation of persons with mental (psychiatric) disabilities in Japan. The following schedule was planned through discussion. among members of Club House Habataki, users of Community Living Support Center ‘Asayake’ and Mr. Hiroshi Ueno, course leader of this training program.
In some coutries mental disabilities are not clearly defined and classified as intellectual disabilities. And besides that, persons with mental disabilities are believed that they cannot work properly. However they can be employed and work efficiently when appropriate vocational environment is arranged.
The participants explained the situation of persons with mental disabilities in each coutry and actively exchanged their opinions with the Habataki members and the Asayake users. It was a long day, but meaningful and precious time for all.
Program Schedule
– Current Situation of Persons with Mental Disabilities in Japan –
| Date : | Friday, October 12, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Venue : | Kodaira Genkimura |
| Participants : | 10 JICA course participants Mr. Hiroshi Ueno, chairperson of Planning Committee 2 JICA coordinators 1 JSRPD staff Members of Club House ‘Habataki’ Users of Community Living Support Center ‘Asayake’
Special Guest : Mr. Masanori Kobayashi, Mayor of Kodaira City |
| 9：45 | Arrival |
| 10：00 | Lecture : Basic knowledge about mental disabilities by Mr. Hiroshi Ueno, Chairperson of Planning Committee
Lecture material : Work and Employment of Persons with Disabilities in Japan |
| 10：45 | Lecture : Community living support of persons with mental disabilities in Kodaira City by Mr. Yoshinao Ito, Director of Community Living Support Center ‘Asayake’ |
| 11：30 | Arrival of Mr. Masanori Kobayashi, Mayor of Kodaira City Self-introduction of JICA course participants Welcome speech by the Mayor Thank-you speech by a participant from Cameroon on behalf of the group |
| 12：00 | Lunch (We look around Genkimura during the lunch break) |
| 13：00 | Explanation of activities of Club House Habataki by members of Habtaki Q & A |
| 14：00 | 1st presentation of personal experience by member of Habataki |
| 14：20 | Q & A |
| 14：30 | 2nd presentation of personal experience by member of Habataki |
| 14：50 | Q & A |
| 15：00 | Break |
| 15：20 | Opinion Exchange and discussion with members of Habataki and users of Asayake The participants answer the 5 questions given by Habataki in advance.
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| 16：30 | End |
