Izumisano Welfare Association in Osaka Runs Program for People with Disabilities and Their Parents to Learn “Jiritsu” (Independence)

From The Fukushi Shimbun via Yahoo! Japan

June 20 2025

OSAKA – The Izumisano Welfare Association, a social welfare corporation operating 28 disability welfare facilities in Osaka Prefecture (chaired by Hirofumi Muroi), has created a program titled “Parent-Child Mirai Work: A Guide to Everyone’s Path to Jiritsu (Independence) from a Lifewide Learning Perspective” (88 pages, in color), which helps both young people with disabilities and their parents learn about “jiritsu” (independence). The word “jiritsu” is written in hiragana to avoid making the concept seem overly complicated. The program summarizes the results of a two-year project supported by the Nippon Foundation.

For over ten years, the organization has run “Schuleote,” a life care program providing a learning space for high school graduates of special needs schools to grow into working adults over four years. Through this experience, the need became apparent to also teach relationship-building and interpersonal skills. Parents, driven by a sense of responsibility, often struggle to let go, resulting in cases of “old-age caregiving for disabled children.” In response to this, the program was developed to help both individuals with disabilities and their parents pursue their own forms of jiritsu.

The lifewide learning program for people with disabilities includes ten activities that allow participants to enjoyably learn essential elements of human relationships such as “mutual understanding,” “consultation,” and “listening and communicating.” These are intended to be done with staff and a small group of disabled individuals. For example, in the “Treasure Presentation” activity, participants introduce their personal treasures. They listen to each other’s presentations attentively and write on a “Like!” card. Through this, they learn experientially about expressing themselves, listening, and affirming each other.

The lifewide learning program for parents includes lectures and group work covering concrete social resources for adults with disabilities, such as the adult guardianship system. Parents hear firsthand experiences from others who have gone before them, exchange views about the future, and—if they wish—experience a short-term stay program. The aim is to support parents emotionally while encouraging a shift in mindset.

The Parent-Child Mirai Work booklet is available free of charge. Those interested can contact the organization at 072-445-5373. Executive Officer Tokuyoshi Seiji of the organization said, “We hope even part of it will serve as a useful reference in everyday support efforts.”