As coronavirus closes special needs schools Hokkaido disability groups request alternative arrangements

Written with extracts translated from NHK

March 6th 2020

SAPPORO – Following the closure of all special needs schools in Hokkaido due to the spread of the new coronavirus, parents and other groups have requested the Education Committee to create a place for children with disabilities.

Six organizations, including parents with children with disabilities, such as intellectual disability and autism, made requests to the school’s Board of Education, Yoshihiro Sato, and submitted a request.

According to the report, most special support schools and special support classes were closed until spring break, but some parents could not take a break from work, and it was pointed out that child custody services were crowded and difficult to use. You.
In addition, we request that the period of school closure be reduced in accordance with the actual situation of schools, and that if schools continue to be closed, the school building be opened to create a place for children to live.

Harumitsu Sato, chairman of the Hokkaido Hands-On Hands-Up Association, one of the groups that requested this, said, “Some people have a great deal of thought about having been closed. I want you to respond carefully. “