Category: developmental disabilities

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 25, 2026 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Disability Education Japan

Schoolchildren in Japan With Developmental Disabilities Three Times More Likely to Miss School

Among 9,641 students who were identified as having, or suspected of having, a developmental disability and who met one of the following criteria—(1) were enrolled in a special-needs class; (2) were enrolled in a regular class and used tsukyu resource-room instruction when necessary; or (3) were enrolled in a regular class and had requested or received consultations about support—1,278 were not attending school. Across the overall sample, 4,788 of 129,014 students were not attending school.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 12, 2026 Number of comments0
Children developmental disabilities Disability Disasters Earthquake Japan Kumamoto Podcast Typhoon

Children with Disabilities Offered Places to Feel at Ease in Quake-Hit Kumamoto [Podcast Episode]

Efforts are underway in Kumamoto Prefecture to provide children with developmental and intellectual disabilities with places to stay during the day and relieve stress, after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the southwestern Japan prefecture late last month. At Asobi Studio Uki, an after-school daycare service facility in the city of Uki, the voices of elementary and junior high school students echoed through the building Friday. Some children relaxed by lying on balance balls, while others had their hair tied by staff members. During a game of team ball-toss, a boy on the losing team asked a staff member for another round.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 10, 2026 1
developmental disabilities Disability Disasters Earthquake Intellectual disabilities Japan Kumamoto

Children with Disabilities Offered Places to Feel at Ease in Quake-Hit Kumamoto

Efforts are underway in Kumamoto Prefecture to provide children with developmental and intellectual disabilities with places to stay during the day and relieve stress, after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the southwestern Japan prefecture late last month. At Asobi Studio Uki, an after-school daycare service facility in the city of Uki, the voices of elementary and junior high school students echoed through the building Friday. Some children relaxed by lying on balance balls, while others had their hair tied by staff members. During a game of team ball-toss, a boy on the losing team asked a staff member for another round.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 7, 2026 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Film Japan Podcast

Japan health ministry teams up with film to promote understanding of developmental disabilities [Podcast Episode]

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced in a press release on August 5 that it has partnered with the upcoming film ‘Parallel and Vertical’ as part of a nationwide campaign to promote public understanding of developmental disabilities. The film directed by Seitaro Kobayashi and starring Shota Yasuda and Non, opens in cinemas across Japan on Aug. 28. The story follows the siblings as they confront a major turning point in their lives when the younger sister prepares to marry, prompting both to reconsider the nature of their lifelong bond.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 6, 2026 1
developmental disabilities Disability Japan

Japan health ministry teams up with film to promote understanding of developmental disabilities

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced in a press release on August 5 that it has partnered with the upcoming film ‘Parallel and Vertical’ as part of a nationwide campaign to promote public understanding of developmental disabilities. The film directed by Seitaro Kobayashi and starring Shota Yasuda and Non, opens in cinemas across Japan on Aug. 28. The story follows the siblings as they confront a major turning point in their lives when the younger sister prepares to marry, prompting both to reconsider the nature of their lifelong bond.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 22, 2026 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Disability Education Japan Podcast

As awareness increases, more than 800,000 students in Japan may have developmental disabilities [Podcast Episode]

More than 800,000 students attending public elementary and junior high schools across Japan are estimated to have developmental disabilities, according to a government survey, with experts saying the increase reflects improved recognition rather than a sudden rise in prevalence.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 13, 2026 Number of comments0
Abuse Children developmental disabilities Disability Education Japan Podcast

Osaka High Court upholds dismissal of bullying lawsuit by schoolgirl with developmental disability [Podcast Episode]

According to the complaint and a report by a third-party committee established by the city, the young woman, now a high school student, attended a municipal elementary school in Sakai. Between her third and fourth grades (2018–2019), she was bullied by classmates, who blacked out her name in a shared notebook and stuffed small stones and other objects into her shoes. She eventually stopped attending school and later transferred to another school.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 10, 2026 1
Abuse developmental disabilities Disability Education Japan

Osaka High Court upholds dismissal of bullying lawsuit by schoolgirl with developmental disability

According to the complaint and a report by a third-party committee established by the city, the young woman, now a high school student, attended a municipal elementary school in Sakai. Between her third and fourth grades (2018–2019), she was bullied by classmates, who blacked out her name in a shared notebook and stuffed small stones and other objects into her shoes. She eventually stopped attending school and later transferred to another school.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 1, 2026 Number of comments0
Crime developmental disabilities Disability Japan Podcast Welfare

Woman arrested for 19 million Yen fraud targeting parent of child with suspected developmental disorder [Podcast Episode]

A 57-year-old company employee has been arrested on suspicion of defrauding the parents of a child suspected of having a developmental disorder out of approximately ¥19 million (about US$130,000) by recommending the child study abroad. Police believe the suspect may have used the same scheme to defraud multiple victims of more than ¥50 million in total and are continuing their investigation.