Social Policy for People with Disabilities in Japan
By Hideharu Uemura, Ph. D. Jpana College of Social Work
Definition of Physical Disabilities
- Visual impairment (0.1 or less)
- Hearing impairment (70dB or less)
- Impairment of voice, speech, mastication or balance function
- Impairment of the limbs/trunk
- Impairments of the functions of the heart, kidney, respiratory organs, bladder, rectum, small intestine and immunity
Number of Physically Disabled People
| Visual Impaired People | 305,800 |
|---|---|
| Hearing and Speech | 361,200 |
| limbs/trunk Impaired | 1,796,700 |
| Internal Organs Impaired | 863,200 |
| Total | 3,326,900 |
| (in 2,001 Survey) | |
Age and Cause of Physical Disability
It is 60% that physically disabled people are 65 years old and over.
Causes of impairment :
① Diseases 849,000 persons(26.2%)
- cardiovascular diseases at 11.1%
- cerebro-vascular disorders at 10.5%
- diseases of the bones and joints at 8.7%
② Accidents 553，000 persons(17.0%)
Definition of Intellectual Disability
The intellectual disability was manifested during the development period (birth to 18 years of age)
Those persons have functional deficits in skills for daily life.
Number of intellectually disabled People
| Intellectually Disabled Children | 103,000 |
|---|---|
| Intellectually Disabled Adults | 342,000 |
| Unknown | 14,000 |
| Total | 459,000 |
| (in 2000 survey) | |
The severity of intellectual disabilities is rated from "Severe" through "Another".
Definition of Psychiatric Disabilities
Persons with psychiatric disabilities
shall mean a person who has schizophrenia, toxic psychiatric disease, mental retardation, psychopathic tendency and other psychiatric disease.
Degree of Psychiatric Disability
| Grade 1 | … inability of daily living |
|---|---|
| Grade 2 | … limitation of daily living |
| Grade 3 | … limitation of out-door activities |
The number of the Psychiatrically disabled is 2,584,000. (in 2003 survey)
