Kanagawa Prefecture third party committee calls for enhanced support for people with disabilities to enable living in the community

From NHK

October 23 2021

KANAGAWA – A Kanagawa Prefecture Third Party Committee, which is considering the ideal way of welfare for persons with disabilities, has put together an interim report stating that support should be enhanced so that people with disabilities can live in the community.

In Kanagawa Prefecture set up a third party committee consisting of specialists in supporting persons with disabilities and people with disabilities to discuss the ideal way of welfare for persons with disabilities.

The committee has recently compiled an interim report and recommended that prefectural admission facilities should be renewed from the current situation where the period of admission is prolonged and that people with disabilities should be supported so that they can live in the community.

Specifically, the living environment is such that the period of stay at the prefectural facility is divided and support is provided so that residents can live in group homes in the area, the capacity and scale of the facility are reduced, and the large room is remodeled into a private room. We are requesting that we proceed with maintenance.
On the other hand, inappropriate behaviors such as keeping users in locked rooms for a long time have been found at prefectural entrance facilities, and we are requesting a review of staff training.
Governor Kuroiwa said, “It is necessary to support people with disabilities so that they can live in the community. From the user’s perspective, we would like to fundamentally review the need for facilities.”