It was discovered that a facility for persons with disabilities in Sasebo City was abused by its staff, and the city imposed an administrative sanction to suspend acceptance of new users for one year.

This facility is used by people with intellectual disabilities and people with physical disabilities, and according to Sasebo City, 5 cases of physical abuse and 1 case of psychological abuse were confirmed in 2022.

In fiscal 2015, the facility had also used inappropriate physical restraints, and the prefecture recommended improvements.

Episode notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/13/administrative-sanctions-for-sasebo-facility-for-disabled-over-abuse/

At a support facility for the disabled in Betsukai, East Hokkaido, a male resident who was locked in a second-floor room by a male staff member fell out of a window and sustained injuries. The Hokkaido Prefectural Government is conducting interviews with the staff to investigate the possibility that the incident may have been an act of abuse.

Episode Notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/10/male-resident-of-hokkaido-facility-for-disabled-injured-after-falling-out-of-window-of-2nd-floor-room-possible-abuse-investigated/

A survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found on August 6th that 81.7% of companies answered that they “do not give special consideration” even if their employees have children with disabilities. Parents of children with disabilities tend to take time off from work to go to hospitals or accompany them, and often have no choice but to give up their careers. The government’s study group is asking companies to provide support that respects the wishes of their employees.

Regarding considerations (multiple answers) for employees’ children who have disabilities or require medical care (multiple answers), 81.7% answered “nothing in particular”, while “period of use such as reduced working hours” 4.0% answered “extend”, and 3.3% answered “extend the number of years taken such as childcare leave”. 1.2% of respondents said that they would receive subsidies for childcare and housework support services.

Episode Notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/07/japanese-government-survey-shows-81-7-of-companies-do-not-give-special-consideration-if-their-employees-have-children-with-disabilities/

A former director of a facility for the disabled in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, was arrested and indicted for committing an obscene act against a woman who entered the facility.

The former director of a facility (87) for the disabled in Nishi Ward, Sakai City, was arrested and indicted for quasi-forced indecency.

According to the indictment and other documents, the defendant is accused of indecent acts such as touching the breasts of a woman with an intellectual disability (42 years old at the time), who was a resident of the facility in September last year for about 20 minutes.

Episode notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/06/touching-breasts-for-20-minutes-former-director-of-osaka-care-facility-for-disabled-arrested-for-quasi-forced-indecency/

Shinya Tateiwa, a sociologist and professor at Ritsumeikan University, who was known for his essays on the disabled and euthanasia, including a critique of the murder case at a facility for people with disabilities in Sagamihara, passed away at 1:33 p.m. on July 31 at a hospital in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City due to a malignant lymphoma. He was 62 years old.

Please forgive my bad pronunciation of the late Prof. Tateiwa's name, 'Tateiwa'. In the 'English tongue' it is best pronounced as 'Tateh-Ihwa', with the emphasis on the 'ihwa'. I find the name difficult to say.

Episode Notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/08/01/shinya-tateiwa-sociologist-who-researched-people-with-disabilities-dies-aged-62/

In an effort to make people with disabilities aware of the reality of their situation, the Japan Council on Disability (Tokyo) has published an encyclopedia that explains issues such as "support for children with disabilities" and "disasters and people with disabilities" in addition to laws and terminology. The encyclopedia was written not only by academics, but also by people with disabilities and their supporters to reflect their perspectives on the frontlines.


Episode Notes:

“The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Disabilities” Explaining Legal Terms and Issues Published in Japan:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/07/30/encyclopedia-understanding-the-reality-of-people-with-disabilities-explaining-legal-terms-and-issues-published-in-japan/

Book Publisher: https://book.yadokarinosato.org/items/75172329

Nineteen people were killed by a former worker at a facility for people with disabilities in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, on July 26, 2016. A memorial ceremony was held on Wednesday for the 19 people killed in the attack.

Yukari Okutsu (54), who has lived in the facility since before the attack, told the gathering at the ceremony that she tries to ease the anxiety of her fellow residents by talking to them when they are in trouble. She went on to say, “My 19 friends, please continue watching over us from heaven.” Okutsu gave the first memorial speech by a resident of the facility.

Episode Notes ‘First Memorial Speech by Resident of ‘Sagamihara Massacre’ Care Facility Given by Yukari Okutsu on Seven Year Anniversary of Killings’:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/07/26/first-memorial-speech-by-resident-of-sagamihara-massacre-care-facility-given-by-yukari-okutsu-on-seven-year-anniversary-of-killings/

Sao Ichikawa, the winner of the Akutagawa Prize, is a 43-year-old resident of Kanagawa Prefecture.

She was diagnosed with congenital myopathy, a muscle disease, one of the most intractable diseases, when she was 10 years old, began using a ventilator at the age of 14, uses an electric wheelchair for transportation, and writes using a tablet device.

Episode Notes:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/07/19/sao-ichikawa-woman-with-congenital-myopathy-wins-japans-akutagawa-prize/

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/07/20/i-wrote-this-with-the-mind-that-there-are-not-many-authors-like-me-says-sao-ichikawa-woman-with-a-disability-on-winning-the-akutagawa-prize/

Police on June 22 found the body of a 6-year-old boy near the home of his 34-year-old mother here who was arrested by Hyogo Prefectural Police the same day along with three siblings on suspicion of illegally confining and injuring the boy’s grandmother.

Arrested were Nao’s mother, 34, and her brother, 32, and twin siblings both 30. Nao had lived with his 57-year-old grandmother, Yumiko, and the four suspects in an apartment complex in Kobe’s Nishi Ward.

The four are also accused of conspiring to mistreat Nao’s grandmother, Yumiko, intermittently confining her in a closet at the home between around March and June 20. On June 19, they allegedly hit her in the back several times with a metal pipe, injuring her. Police have not disclosed whether the four suspects, including Nao’s mother, have admitted to or denied the allegations against them.

Episode Notes: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/06/26/suspects-in-6-year-old-boys-death-in-kobe-also-arrested-for-mistreating-boys-wheelchair-using-grandmother/

In the last week a lot of stories have been reported that concerns people with disabilities in Japan.

Episode Notes:

Report to Mention Forced Sterilization of 9-Yr-Olds under Former Law in Japan:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/06/17/report-to-mention-forced-sterilization-of-9-yr-olds-under-former-law-in-japan/

Request to Cut Interview with Disabled Employee from Japan’s ‘Itoham’ Video Sparks Controversy:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2023/06/24/request-to-cut-interview-with-disabled-employee-from-japans-itoham-video-sparks-controversy/