Five people were found to be infected at a welfare facility for the disabled in the jurisdiction of the Masuda Public Health Center, 10 at a welfare facility for the elderly in Izumo City, and 10 at a welfare facility for the elderly in the jurisdiction of the Hamada Public Health Center.
For disabled people, who cannot do without daily life support, it is difficult to refuse the wishes of the facility looking after them. Depopulation has advanced in areas where group homes are located, and the facilities people can use are limited.
The abuse took place at Morinokuma-san, a day-care facility for primary schools children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. As a result of an audit conducted by the prefectural government after receiving information from the city, it was found that the chairwoman had been committing abusive acts for several years, including: (1) using expired or outdated foodstuffs in meals served; (2) giving warnings in an abusive voice such as “no rice”; and (3) rarely using the air-conditioner in the summer.
On December 18 the ‘group home’ operated by Asunaro Social Welfare Service Corporation in Esashi, Hokkaido, admitted that it had made sterilization a condition for mentally disabled couples for more than 20 years.
Approximately four hours after Hokkaido and Esashi Town officials entered the group home shortly before 1:30 p.m. on December 26, they loaded cardboard boxes, believed to contain materials from the facility, into a car.
A total of five clusters have occurred at welfare facilities and schools for the elderly, children and people with disabilities in Shimane Prefecture.
Hokkaido Governor Suzuki said, “If it is confirmed that the operators are not providing proper welfare services for persons with disabilities, we will consider necessary measures such as recommendations and orders based on the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act”.
According to the corporation, its homes have since the late 1990s asked male residents to undergo a vasectomy and female residents to use a contraceptive ring if they want to marry or live with a partner at these facilities.
A 29-year-old man, a former employee of a workshop for the disabled, was accused of quasi-forced sexual intercourse and quasi-forced indecency for sexually assaulting two women with severe intellectual disabilities. It was held at the Otsu District Court on the 15th. Presiding Judge Yasushi Hatayama handed down a sentence of 5 years imprisonment for “an extremely despicable and vicious crime”.
On the 4th of December, the Hokkaido facility held an information session for the residents’ families, reported the abuse, and apologized. In the future, it is said that an “abuse verification committee” will be set up to consider measures to prevent recurrence.
Barrier Free Japan