May 28, 2007:
Visit to Workshop and Home of Persons with Disabilities in Atsugi City
Training Report - Vocational Rehabilitation Course 2007

Ten participants visited the community of Atsugi city in Kanagawa Pref.
Prof. Ogawa, one of our planning committee members organized today's program.

In the morning, JICA participants called on a person with cervical injury.
She lives on the first floor of the public housing and her house is remodeled to meet her needs to live independently. She uses personal assistant services everyday so that she does not have to depend on her family all the time. In most of the participants' countries, family members are the care givers and it becomes a big burden to them. Before the JICA participants left her house, she explained them how many times she had to visit City Hall to convince government officers to provide her present services.

   

The participants had lunch at "Donguri (Acorn)", a coffee shop in Atsugi City Hall, where many persons with intellectual disabilities are working.
After lunch they had a wrap-up session there. Today's facilitator was the participant from Cambodia.

 

They had an opportunity to visit Consultation Room which was located in the same building. It was divided into three sections for physical, intellectual and mental disability each. Counselors for each type of disabilities are stationed there and citizens with disabilities living in Atsugi city can visit and get information related to welfare services for free.

In the afternoon, the participants visited a home of a couple with disabilities. They built their dream house in Atsugi city. They remodeled their house to meet their needs and use many different types of assistive devices and equipments. They also use personal assistant services for bathing. A participant form Indonesia tried the lift and was transferred from the bed to the bathroom. It is not easy for the couple to pay back their debts, however they decided to leave the institution and live independently in the community.