Intellectual disabilities – Page 4

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 11, 2025 0

Parents of children with disabilities in Japan face “18-year-old wall”, forced to quit jobs to care for children

The Association of Parents Who Work While Raising Children with Disabilities and Children with Medical Care held a press conference at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on December 17, 2024. When children turn 18 and graduate from special-needs schools, they can no longer receive after-school day care services, which are available until around 6 pm. The majority of these services end around 3:00 p.m., forcing parents to leave their jobs to watch over and care for their children. Some parents refer to this the “18-year-old barrier”.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 1, 2024 1

Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan

I Cannot Think of my Handicapped Daughter as “Precious”; Son, Daughter Without Disabilities Are “Adorable” [Japan News, ‘Dear Troubleshooter’]

Our older daughter, a junior high school student, has a severe intellectual disability. She is unable to take care of herself, so I have to help her with everything, including using the bathroom and bathing. She is very particular about things and often gets angry suddenly or screams nonstop for a long time.

I don’t know when it happened, but I started not thinking about her as precious to me. I sometimes even wish she would go away. My son, who is in high school, and my younger daughter, an elementary school student, have no disabilities, and they’re so adorable.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 28, 2024 0

Disability Election Intellectual disabilities Japan

Parents’ Association created pamphlet to support voters with intellectual disabilities

In order to encourage disabled young people over 18 to exercise their voting rights, a Fukushima City group made up of parents with intellectually disabled children created a pamphlet introducing the “proxy voting system” for the upcoming House of Representatives election, and is calling for active voting.

The “proxy voting system” is a system in which a polling station official can write the ballot for you if you have difficulty filling it out yourself due to a disability, illness, or injury.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 23, 2024 0

2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disability Education Intellectual disabilities Japan Welfare

200,000 Children with Disabilities in “Special Needs Classes” Reports Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in FY2022 Survey

A survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on the 6th revealed that the number of children with disabilities who used “part-time class instruction” at public and private elementary, junior high and high schools, where they are enrolled in regular classes but receive lessons in separate rooms as needed, reached 198,343 in 2022, a new record high. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities advocates “inclusive education,” in which children with disabilities are not separated from other children and students, but Japan’s current situation has been criticized as going against this.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 11, 2024 1

Intellectual disabilities Japan Politics

LDP Hopeful Shinjiro Koizumi accused of being “intellectually low” at press conference announcing candidacy

The Tokyo Shimbun reported that although he is considered one of the “favorite” candidates due to his high name recognition and ability to communicate, there are strong concerns about his ability to answer questions as prime minister, as he has made some unique statements at international conferences, such as “I will tackle climate change in a sexy way.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 18, 2024 1

Abuse Crime Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan Sexual abuse

Osaka Group Home for Disabled Manager Admits to Sexually Abusing, Photographing Two Intellectually Disabled Women

A man who ran a group home for people with disabilities admitted to habitually sexually abusing two women who stayed there, also filming obscene scenes with a smartphone. In court, he repeatedly stated that “it was his own weakness that led him to commit the crime.” The prosecution denounced the crime as “treating the victims as an outlet for sexual desire and severely violating their personalities,” and sought a 10-year prison sentence.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 8, 2024 0

Disability Education Intellectual disabilities Japan Sex Sexual abuse

60% of Teachers at Japan’s Schools for Intellectually Disabled Have Dealt with Issues Related to Sex On SNS: Survey

A survey conducted by Satoko Tsuda, associate professor at Chubu University, and her colleagues found that more than 60% of teachers in charge of student guidance at special-needs schools for children with intellectual disabilities have dealt with problems related to sex on social networking sites (SNS). Only about 30% of the respondents answered that they had provided literacy education on risks and other issues.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 16, 2024 0

Disability Education Intellectual disabilities Japan

Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education to abolish boarding schools for intellectually disabled children by the end of FY 2024

The Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education has decided to abolish boarding schools at both Tochigi and Nasu special needs schools in March 2025. The decision was made public at an information session for parents that began on July 10th. These were the only two boarding schools for intellectually disabled children in the prefecture, so all such schools will be abolished.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 9, 2024 0

Abuse Crime Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #41: Kyoto men accused of forcing disabled person into washing machine

Kyoto police arrested two men on Thursday for allegedly forcing a disabled coworker into an industrial washing machine and turning it on, injuring him. On March 26 at around 2:30 p.m, the two suspects reportedly told their coworker, a 50-year-old man with an intellectual disability, “You stink! Get in the washing machine.”
They allegedly proceeded to force him into the machine and turn it on, resulting in injuries that required two weeks to heal. The victim sought medical attention a few days after the incident. The doctor who treated him noticed bruises and other injuries all over his body and reported the case to the police.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 3, 2024 0

Disability Hikikomori Intellectual disabilities Japan

1.14 million people with intellectual disabilities living at home in Japan, an increase of 170,000, highest ever number, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Reports

On May 31st, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced the estimated number of people with intellectual disabilities living at home or elsewhere nationwide as of December 2022, is reaching 1.14 million.

This is an increase of 178,000 from the previous survey in 2004 and the largest number ever. The Ministry analyzes that “one of the factors may be the increase in the acquisition of the Rehabilitation Certificate, mainly for infants and children.