A group home in Hokkaido, northern Japan, has required residents with intellectual disabilities to undergo sterilization treatment if they want to get married or live together with a partner at the facility, its operator admitted.
Mark Bookman PhD, was a historian, whose specialism was disability policy and related social movements in Japanese and global contexts. He studied Japanese Studies at University of Pennsylvania, and at the time of his death on December 16th 2022 he was Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Tokyo.
More students than a decade ago are being identified by their teachers as likely having a developmental disability, meaning they require extra classroom support, according to data released by the education ministry.
Daisuke Tenbata, who has been a member of the House of Councillors and a member of the Reiwa Shinsengumi party since being elected in July 2022, tested positive for COVID-19 on December 10th.
Daisuke Tenbata, who has been a member of the House of Councillors and a member of the Reiwa Shinsengumi party since being elected in July 2022, has tested positive for COVID-19.
The law changes the consent system for “medical protection hospitalization”, a form of forced hospitalization, for persons with mental disabilities. It has been criticized as increasing unnecessary hospitalizations. The majority of what the law stipulates will come into effect in April 2024.
The Emperor of Japan said:
“I would like to make this address in the hope that, through Disability Week, people’s understanding of and interest in disability and people with disabilities will further expand and that a truly ‘symbiotic society’ will be realised.”
At the Budget Committee meeting, Daisuke Tenbata, an Upper House member of the opposition party Reiwa Shinsengumi, said Mio Sugita’s comments reflect a bygone era of a totalitarian government that sought to ostracize people with disabilities and homosexuals as a worthless existence in society. Tenbata is disabled and uses a wheelchair.
Saturday 3rd of December was the UN International Day of People with Disabilities.
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has established appropriate facilities and equipment such as barrier-free toilets, parking facilities for wheelchair users, elevators in passenger facilities, and priority seats in vehicles so that those who “truly need them” can use them when they need them. The Ministry states that it will carry out a campaign to promote the use of these facilities and promote “barrier-free minds.”
“Barrier-free minds” is a phrase that various parts of the Japanese government uses often in its various campaigns to raise awareness of disability issues; and of course, raising awareness of the needs of people with disabilities within the non-disabled population of Japan is a positive thing. However sometimes the desire of the Japanese government to talk about “barrier-free minds”, seems to replace any talk or action about developing ‘barrier-free spaces’. It is all very well and good to talk about “barrier-free minds”, but sometimes, people with disabilities need accessible physical spaces, ultimately no ‘positive attitude’ will turn that staircase into an elevator.
Barrier Free Japan