Hokkaido – Page 2 – Barrier Free Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 29, 2023 1

Five former staff members of Hokkaido support facility for people with disabilities charged with assault

Six former employees of ‘Seiryu no Sato’, a support facility for persons with disabilities in Nishi-okobe village, were sent to prosecution on suspicion of assault for repeatedly abusing residents last year, including unnecessarily pressing down on them.

The Monbetsu District Public Prosecutor’s Office summarily charged five of them with assault on 29 March.

On the other hand, one former employee was not prosecuted.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 21, 2023 0

Abuse Care Disability Hokkaido Japan

Former staff member at a facility for the disabled in Hokkaido arrested on suspicion of assault

A 28-year-old former employee of a support facility for people with disabilities in Wakkanai was arrested on suspicion of assault at the facility for deliberately putting their foot on a resident and causing the resident to fall over. The police are investigating in detail whether the abuse was a regular occurrence.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 30, 2022 0

Care Disability Forced Sterilization Hokkaido Japan

Mainichi Shimbun Editorial: Probe must shed light on sterilization of couples with disabilities in Japan

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.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 28, 2022 2

Care Eugenics Forced Sterilization Hokkaido Japan

A Week of the Hokkaido Care Home Sterilization Scandal

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.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 28, 2022 0

Eugenics Forced Sterilization Hokkaido Japan

Asahi Shimbun Editorial: Sterilization case underlines grim services for people with disabilities

Eight couples underwent sterilization procedures in response to the operator’s suggestion.
The operator of the group home, a social welfare corporation, insists it never compelled anyone to become sterilized nor required sterilization operations as a condition for continued use of its services.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 26, 2022 1

Care Disability Forced Sterilization Hokkaido Japan

Hokkaido Prefectural Government begins legal audit of care home that required residents to be sterilized

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.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 23, 2022 1

Abuse Care Hokkaido Japan

In the wake of abuse cases of people with disabilities, Hokkaido Prefectural Government to survey all facilities in January 2023

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”.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 20, 2022 1

Care Forced Sterilization Hokkaido Japan

Disabled couples in Hokkaido agreed to birth control, operator of group homes claims

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.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 9, 2022 0

Abuse Care Hokkaido Japan

Hokkaido facility for people with disabilities to set up “abuse verification committee” to prevent further abuse

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.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 6, 2022 1

Abuse Care Hokkaido Japan

People with intellectual disabilities abused at facility in northern Japan

The officials have confirmed that six male workers were involved in 38 cases of physical and mental abuse on 13 male residents.

The abusive acts included leaving naked residents unattended for long periods, forcing the residents to eat food that had been spilt, and forcibly moving wheelchair users’ body parts that had stiffened.