A jury trial began on September 20th at the Okayama District Court for a mother accused of strangling and killing her 8-year-old son, who was severely intellectually disabled, in Wake Town, Okayama Prefecture in June 2022. The mother admitted to the indictment, saying, “There is no doubt.”
Under the system, welfare and other workers assist in defense lawyers’ activities in the investigation and court hearing stages and propose rehabilitation support plans suitable for the defendants in terms of their disabilities and characteristics.
The system, dubbed the “Osaka Model,” has achieved some results, but seems to have reached a turning point as it faces challenges to secure welfare and other personnel.
A survey by the Tokyo-based recruiting firm ‘Leverages’ found that 26% of people with disabilities who are working took “more than a year” to find their first job. 42% of those who answered “more than a year” were intellectually disabled, the highest percentage by disability.
A survey by the Tokyo-based recruiting firm ‘Leverages’ found that 26% of people with disabilities who are working took “more than a year” to find their first job. 42% of those who answered “more than a year” were intellectually disabled, the highest percentage by disability.
The most common difficulty in job hunting (multiple responses) among people with intellectual disabilities was “not knowing which industry, company, or type of work would suit me”. For the mentally challenged, “I can’t find a company that offers the consideration I want,” and for the physically challenged, “I can’t find a company that offers the kind of work I want” were the most common responses, respectively.
It was discovered that a facility for persons with disabilities in Sasebo City was abused by its staff, and the city imposed an administrative sanction to suspend acceptance of new users for one year.
This facility is used by people with intellectual disabilities and people with physical disabilities, and according to Sasebo City, 5 cases of physical abuse and 1 case of psychological abuse were confirmed in 2022.
In fiscal 2015, the facility had also used inappropriate physical restraints, and the prefecture recommended improvements.
This facility is used by people with intellectual disabilities and people with physical disabilities, and according to Sasebo City, 5 cases of physical abuse and 1 case of psychological abuse were confirmed in 2022.
Yuko Kadoshita, a visiting researcher at Toyo University, conducted the survey in 2021. 466 people responded, with 5.6% saying that dating is “prohibited” and 63.3% saying that “it is not prohibited but there are rules. 30.0% said “no ban and no rules.”
According to the prefectural education board, on Dec. 7, 2022, a 44-year-old teacher tied a second grader with intellectual disabilities to a chair by binding his arms and waist with a long jump rope because the boy stood up and walked around during lunchtime. When the rope became loose, the teacher reportedly tied him up again and secured the boy in place.
When they finally revealed their intention to get married to their families and support staff, “they fiercely opposed the idea. They told us, ‘It’s impossible for the two of you to live together,'” Shunsuke said.
Kyodo News conducted a survey of people with intellectual disabilities and their families nationwide regarding the problem of people with intellectual disabilities being sterilized or treated at a group home in Hokkaido, it was found on February 26 that approximately one in five (19%) people in their 20s or older have experienced opposition or restrictions from those around them regarding love, marriage or childbirth.
Barrier Free Japan