The number of persons with physical disabilities in Akita prefecture was 54,221 as of the end of March 2005. This represents an increase of 8.5% compared with the population of 49,987 in 2000. A breakdown showed that this population is comprised of persons with diseases (notably cerebrovascular, ear, joint, and eye and heart conditions) and injuries resulting from traffic accidents or accidents at work.
The complexity, degree of severity, and aging have diversified the needs of persons with physical disabilities and to achieve the welfare objectives of “full participation and equality” of the International Year for Disabled Persons, effort has been made to provide a variety of comprehensive facilities and to promote enterprises that enable those with physical disabilities to live happy and productive lives.
1. Present State of Persons with Physical Disabilities
Number of Persons with Physical Disabilities
| (as of March 31, 2005 to the present) | |||||
| Item/FY | FY2000 | FY2001 | FY2002 | FY2003 | FY2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of persons with physical disabilities | 49,987 | 50,772 | 51,890 | 53,439 | 54,221 |
| Index | 100.0 | 101.6 | 103.8 | 106.9 | 108.5 |
Number of Persons with Physical Disabilities According to Disability and Age
| (as of March 31, 2005 to the present) | ||||
| Disability/Age | Total | Age 0 to 17 | Age 18 to 59 | Over age 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Person with visual impairments | 4,124 | 31 | 764 | 3,329 |
| Persons with hearing impairments | 4,552 | 101 | 692 | 3,759 |
| Persons with disequilibrium | 38 | 0 | 11 | 27 |
| Persons with speech – language or mastication disabilities | 688 | 6 | 138 | 544 |
| Persons with orthopedic disabilities | 33,128 | 419 | 6,104 | 26,605 |
| Persons with heart function disabilities | 7,113 | 110 | 833 | 6,170 |
| Persons with kidney function disabilities | 1,980 | 20 | 797 | 1,163 |
| Persons with respiration disabilities | 1,080 | 16 | 53 | 1,011 |
| Persons with bladder or rectum function disabilities | 1,484 | 14 | 208 | 1,262 |
| Persons with small intestine function disabilities | 25 | 2 | 15 | 8 |
| Persons with immune disabilities due to HIV | 9 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
Number of Persons with Physical Disabilities According to Disability and Grade
| (as of March 31, 2005 to the present) | |||||||
| Disability / Grade | Total | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 54,221 | 15,564 | 10,764 | 10,440 | 10,173 | 3,676 | 3,604 |
| Person with visual disability | 4,124 | 1,228 | 1,038 | 447 | 309 | 526 | 524 |
| Person with hearing disability | 4,552 | 237 | 1,090 | 712 | 756 | 21 | 1,736 |
| Person with disequilibrium | 38 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 2 | 15 | 0 |
| Person with speech-language disability or mastication disability | 688 | 15 | 56 | 414 | 203 | 0 | 0 |
| Person with orthopedic disability | 33,128 | 6,820 | 8,442 | 6,510 | 6,905 | 3,107 | 1,344 |
| Person with heart function Disability | 7,113 | 5,332 | 46 | 1,428 | 307 | 0 | 0 |
| Person with kidney function disability | 1,980 | 1,744 | 21 | 177 | 38 | 0 | 0 |
| Person with respiration disabilities | 1,080 | 142 | 50 | 651 | 235 | 2 | 0 |
| erson with bladder or rectum function disabilities | 1,484 | 5 | 9 | 61 | 1,409 | 0 | 0 |
| Person with small intestine function disabilities | 25 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Person with immune disability due to HIV | 9 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
