Author: Michael Gillan Peckitt

UK & CP born, living in Japan, blogging about disability
Disability Forced Sterilization Japan Kobe

Kobe resident with cerebral palsy, Yumi Suzuki, files civil lawsuit over forced sterilization

“Yumi Suzuki, a woman with cerebral palsy, who is now 63 years old, filed a civil law suit at the Kobe District Court on Wednesday February 27th seeking compensation of 11 million yen for violations she experienced under the former Eugenic Protection Law, which was a law enforced in Japan from 1948 until 1996.

Disability Independent Living Japan Mental Health

Kids’ cafeteria serves up meals, smiles while helping mentally ill

“The group “Aoitori” (“Bluebird”) has been running a free meal service called “Kishiwada Kodomo Shokudo” every fourth Saturday of the month to help children and other people in need, supporting patients who are hospitalized for lengthy periods in psychiatric wards, and making radio appearances to address various concerns.”

Disability Employment Japan Padded Jobs

Swiftly create environment where disabled people can work stably [Yomiuri Shimbun Editorial]

“The important thing is to make preparations for accepting them. Should these new workers be hired on a massive scale and in a coercive manner, just to make up the numbers, it would be difficult for these individuals to settle into their new workplaces. It is a matter of course to aim at meeting the statutory hiring rate soon, but such endeavors should be advanced carefully, in keeping with workplace conditions.”

Blind Braille Disability Japan

Japanese Designer Develops “Visually Readable” Braille

“A young Japanese designer has developed a set of letter designs to be printed on corresponding braille patterns of raised dots, in a bid to help those who do not use braille to understand the language for the visually impaired. 

“I hope to bridge the worlds of the visually impaired and other people by using the same tool,” said Kosuke Takahashi, the 25-year-old designer from Tokyo.”