A playground for siblings: Supporting brothers and sisters of children with disabilities

Written with an extract translated from The Mainichi Shimbun

November 21st 2019

2019 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of “Brave Kids”, a voluntary organization in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, which supports brothers and sisters (siblings) of children with disabilities. In addition to providing a place for parents to play with their siblings who cannot play outside because their parents are busy taking care of children with disabilities, it also serves as a place for friends to share the same circumstances.

Children with disabilities and their siblings with intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities and their siblings dressed up as characters in games and movies at the Halloween Party held in Kawaguchi City in the beginning of November. The children made original dishes with the illustrations they wanted, and they got excited at the Janken tournament and ball games.

Machiko Okada (46), the representative of Brave Kids, has eldest son, Kotetsu (16), and a second son, Kojiro (14). An organization was established to create a place to play for “siblings” whose parents are busy with care of disabled children and who cannot go out without a barrier-free facility to go out with their families.