Community Visit

Coordinator : Yoshimichi Ogawa, Department of Welfare Systems Engineering Kanagawa Institute of Technology

1. Purpose of Community Visit

JICA participants should:

• Understand who improves the situation of people with disabilities by discussion with a member of the Astugi City Assembly, and with Mr. Utsumi who has CP and is an electric wheelchair user.
• Understand how people with severe disabilities make their own life by listening to Ms. Fukushima and Mr. & Mrs. Machida.
• Understand the difficulties to manage a vulnerable workshop in local community through the visiting ASUNARO workshop.

2. The population of Atsugi City

• Total Population ;  222,826 (2006)
• Elderly people (over 65);  29,879 (13.41%)

Registered disabled people in Atsugi City

• People with physical impairment :   2,757
• People with visual impairment :   380
• People with audio – speech impairment :   415
• People with other physical impairment :   1,197
• People with intellectual disabilities :   842
• People with psychiatric disorder :   428

3. Time table of Community Visit

(estimated time)

4. Contents of Community Visit

9:30-

Mr. Utsumi, Member of the City Assembly

Visit to the Atsugi City Council

(profile)

• 1977 graduated from the special school for children with physical disabilities
• 1981 participated in the Disability Independent Living Movement
• 1988 had a job as a coordinator at the dental clinic
• 1999 elected a member of Atsugi City Assembly
• 2003 elected a member for the second time
• His family: a wife and 3 children.
• Impairment: Cerebral Palsy, a user of an electric wheelchair

Discussion

JICA participants should :

• Compare the national policy of community care to the reality of the local situation. (Participants have a lecture on the Japanese Welfare Systems on the 25th of May.)
• Understand what has happened surrounding people with disabilities in the local community.
• nderstand the role of the national government and local government concerning social services for people with disabilities.

11:30-

ASUNARO regional workshop

Director : Mr. Machida

Discussion

JICA participants should:

• Understand the management of the small workshop operated by a self help organization.
• Understand the financial problem.
• Understand the importance of the regional workshopfs role for the attendees in the community.

12:00-

Lunch with the members with disabilities of ASUNARO

(The volunteers and staff members cook lunch for the attendees. JICA participants will take the same simple lunch.)

13:30-

Mrs. & Mr. Fukushima

• House type: Public house
  (provided by the Kanagawa Prefectural Government)
• Impairment :
  • Mrs. Fukushima: rheumatism (now, severe quadriplegia)
  • Mr. Fukushima: totally blind

Discussion

JICA participants should :

• Understand the housing supply from the local government.
• Understand the daily life of people with severe disabilities.
• Understand what happens in her life.

15:00-

Mr. & Mrs. Machida

• House type : detached house
• Impairements :
  • Mr. Machida: spinal cord injury (quadriplegia)
  • Mrs. Machida : cerebral palsy (quadriplegia)

Discussion

JICA participants should :

• Understand the effectiveness of the environment of their house for independent living of people with physical disabilities.
• Understand what is their quality of life.