Japan Press Weekly

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2012 September 26 - October 2 [WELFARE]

Persons with disabilities want to lead normal lives in their communities

Demanding the protection of human rights and continuous support for the 3.11 victims with disabilities, 1,800 disabled persons participated in a two-day event held September 29-30 in Fukui City in Fukui Prefecture.

The 35th national assembly took place under the auspices of the Japan Association of Community Workshop for Disabled Persons (Kyosaren).

Nishimura Tadashi, Kyosaren president, said in his greetings, “Let’s work together to achieve a society for all persons with disabilities to have equal rights with the non-disabled and enjoy everyday life in communities!”

Fujii Katsunori, Kyosaren executive director, reported that the death rate for persons with disabilities was twice as high as that for the non-disabled in the 3.11 disaster, and that 99% of working disabled persons earn less than two million yen in annual income.

Fujii stated that the situation is falling far short of a “society on an equal basis with others” as called for in the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The director of a facility for the disabled came from Minamisoma City in Fukushima to take part in a symposium as a panelist. Kori Nobuko reported that medical, educational, and welfare services for the disabled were totally “broken down during the time of the 3.11 disaster and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear accident.”

Kori described the actual situation of the disabled who still cannot live without anxiety in Minamisoma City, saying, “More persons with disabilities seek long-term care in a facility for the disabled, and an increasing number of elderly disabled persons are being recognized as needing nursing care.”