Hokkaido Prefectural Government to strengthen support measures for people with disabilities who want to get married and raise children

From NHK

May 4 2024

HOKKAIDO – In an effort to strengthen support for persons with disabilities who wish to get married and raise children, the Hokkaido Prefectural Government is proposing to the national government to allow child-rearing in group homes as a special exception, and is also working with municipalities and business establishments to create a system to support them in the community.

In response to the issue of a group home in Esashi Town in southern Hokkaido where a mentally disabled resident was suggested to undergo sterilization procedures, the Hokkaido government plans to strengthen support measures for people with disabilities who wish to get married and raise children.

The Hokkaido Prefectural Government has so far compiled a list of requests, which will be submitted to the central government in May, requesting that child-rearing be allowed in satellite-type group homes, where residents have little contact with other residents, as a special exception, and that the compensation for “in-home care support” to support child-rearing be increased.

In addition, since late April, a questionnaire survey has been conducted among offices that provide “in-home care support” in Hokkaido, asking whether they can respond to requests for childcare support, the specifics of their support measures, and the challenges they face in improving their services.