Japan revises law to support people with disabilities to live and work alone, critics concerned about “increasing unnecessary hospitalizations”

Extract from The Mainichi Shimbun & Kyodo via Yahoo! Japan

December 10 2022

On December 10th, revisions to the Act on Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities, which encourages people with disabilities to live and work alone, were approved and enacted at a plenary session of the House of Councillors with a majority of votes from the ruling party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

The amended law combines the Mental Health Welfare Law and the Intractable Disease Medical Care Law. Regarding group homes where a small number of people live together, businesses will be able to support living alone according to the wishes of residents. A system called “employment selection support” will also be newly established so that employees can choose a workplace that matches their aptitude and intentions.

The law changes the consent system for “medical protection hospitalization”, a form of forced hospitalization, for persons with mental disabilities. It has been criticized as increasing unnecessary hospitalizations. The majority of what the law stipulates will come into effect in April 2024.