Category: developmental disabilities

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 29, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Children developmental disabilities Japan Medical

Japan Government Strengthens Support for Local Government to Conduct Medical Checkups of 5-Year-Olds for Early Detection of Developmental Disabilities

The government has begun to strengthen its support for local governments to promote health checkups for infants and toddlers at the age of 5 years old, as it is effective in early detection of developmental disabilities. The program aims to provide appropriate support for children with developmental disorders before they start school, as it is easy to recognize the characteristics of developmental disorders. While local governments are obligated to conduct health checks for 18-month-olds and 3-year-olds, and “school entry health checks” conducted about six months before entering elementary school, 5-year-old health checks are optional, and only 14% of local governments conducted them in fiscal 2011. The Child and Family Agency aims to implement 100% nationwide by fiscal 2028.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 27, 2025 1
ADHD Autism developmental disabilities Intellectual disabilities Japan

Amidst Controversy Over Book Depicting Neurodivergent People as Animals, Publisher Changes Author’s Credentials

In the pre-release book that the Mainichi Shimbun obtained by the 18th, Kanda’s title was listed as “industrial counselor,” but by the 23rd, the title had been changed to “psychological counselor” on the website and mail-order site of the publisher, Mikasa Shobo. According to the Japan Association of Industrial Counselors, which administers the qualification exam for industrial counselors, Kanda is not currently registered as an industrial counselor. Kanda passed the “industrial counselor” qualification, a certification given by the former Ministry of Labor, in January 1999, and considering that “the author has been displaying this qualification for about 30 years, long before the association registered the trademark,” she initially used this title in the publication.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 26, 2025 1
Barrier Free developmental disabilities Education Japan

Nippon Foundation Estimates 360,000 Young People in Japan have been Diagnosed with Developmental Disorders

On March 27, the Nippon Foundation announced an estimate that 364,000 young people between the ages of 20 and 25 have been diagnosed with developmental disorders. It said that 870,000 people believe that they have the disorder even though they have not been diagnosed. In order to understand the actual situation of young people who are unable to adapt to university life or job hunting, an online survey was conducted in November 2024. 17,398 people responded.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 3, 2025 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Disability Discrimination Employment Japan Podcast

Chiba civil engineering company settles lawsuit over “insufficient understanding” of disability [Podcast Episode]

A lawsuit filed by a man in his 30s from Chiba Prefecture against his former civil engineering company in Abiko City, Chiba Prefecture for damages, alleging that he was discriminated against and forced to resign from the civil engineering company where he was employed as a disabled person through Hello Work because the company did not take his developmental disability into consideration, has been settled in the Chiba District Court. The former employer will pay the man approximately 300,000 yen in settlement money. According to the man’s attorney, the settlement was reached in October last year. The settlement terms stated that the former employer apologized to the man for not fully understanding the characteristics of his developmental disability and would pay him the settlement money. 

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 2, 2025 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Disability Japan Welfare

Japanese Government to establish consultation system for developmental disorders, supporting children, families, and local communities

The government has decided to strengthen support for children and families who may have developmental disorders from fiscal 2025, officials announced on the 1st Local childcare, health, and welfare officials will work together with medical institutions. The aim is to establish a system where families can receive “developmental consultations” regarding their children’s characteristics and concerns, such as delayed speech and restlessness, at an early stage, leading to smooth support. In the support framework, developmental consultations will be conducted in places close to children and families, such as health centers that conduct infant health checkups and childcare support centers. Psychologists dispatched from medical institutions commissioned by local governments will provide consultations. An assessment of the child’s characteristics will be conducted and an explanation will be given as to whether a specialist examination is necessary in the future.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 1, 2025 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Disability Discrimination Employment Japan

Chiba civil engineering company pays former employee settlement over “insufficient understanding of developmental disorders”

A lawsuit filed by a man in his 30s from Chiba Prefecture against his former civil engineering company in Abiko City, Chiba Prefecture for damages, alleging that he was discriminated against and forced to resign from the civil engineering company where he was employed as a disabled person through Hello Work because the company did not take his developmental disability into consideration, has been settled in the Chiba District Court. The former employer will pay the man approximately 300,000 yen in settlement money. According to the man’s attorney, the settlement was reached in October last year. The settlement terms stated that the former employer apologized to the man for not fully understanding the characteristics of his developmental disability and would pay him the settlement money. 

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 7, 2025 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Education Japan

Number of children and students with developmental disabilities in Nagano Prefecture reaches record high of over 10,700

Among the children and students attending public elementary and junior high schools in Nagano prefecture, there are over 10,700 children with developmental disabilities, the highest number since statistics began being collected in 2003. The Prefectural Board of Education intends to improve support to meet the needs of each individual. In September of last year, the Prefectural Board of Education conducted a survey of public elementary and junior high schools regarding children and students with developmental disabilities. According to the survey, the total number of children with developmental disabilities was 10,786, including 6,789 elementary school students and 3,997 junior high school students, the highest number since statistics began being collected in 2003.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 28, 2024 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Disability Discrimination Employment Japan

45 Year-old Prefectural Office Worker with Developmental Disabilities Talks About Being Bullied at Work: “I was told it was my fault”

Yamamoto Takafumi (pseudonym, 45 years old), who has ASD (autism spectrum disorder). Yamamoto works at a prefectural office, but communication at work is not going well, and when he disclosed his ASD to his superiors, he began to suffer power harassment every day, and is currently on leave due to adjustment disorder.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 6, 2024 Number of comments0
Barrier Free developmental disabilities Disability Education Japan Podcast

Tokyo Ward Launches Free “Five-year-old check-ups” for Early Detection of Developmental Disabilities [Podcast Episode]

A national subsidy system has been launched for “five-year-old health checkups” conducted by local governments. The main aim is to detect developmental disorders early before entering elementary school and connect them to support through medical care, welfare. The results of the checkups are thought to have a bearing on each individual’s schooling.