Community Visit to Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture
By Yoshimichi Ogawa,
Department of Welfare Systems Engineering Kanagawa Institute of Technology
Vocational Rehab. Course 2008 Go back to Global Navigation

1. Purpose of Community Visit

JICA trainees should understand how people with severe disabilities make their own living, including ‘employment at home’, through observation and interview with Ms. Matsuda, Mr. Jin'no, and Mr. & Mrs. Machida.

2. Population of Atsugi City

Population : 225,213 (April 1, 2008)
Elderly people over 65 : 35,161 (15.6%)

Registered people with disabilities in Atsugi City (April 1, 2007)

People with physical disorder : 2,975
People with visual impairment : 384
People with audio-speech impairment : 449
People with other impairment : 1,305
People with intellectual disability : 949
People with mental disability : 665

3. Time Table of Community Visit

(Estimated time)
10:00 Arriving at Ms. Matsuda's home
12:00 Visit to Mr. Jin'no's home
15:00 Visit to Mr. & Mrs. Machida
16:00 Leaving Atsugi City

4. Profile of 3 Persons and Discussion Issues

(1) Mrs. Matsuda

House type : Public house (provided by Atsugi City (local authority))
Impairment : Quadriplegia (spinal cord injury, caused by medical accident)
Family : Husband and one daughter (nursery school teacher)

She is a representative of Disabled Painting Group “Group KAN”

<Discussion>

JICA trainees should :

  1. Compare the national policy of community care to the reality of local situation.
    (Trainees have received a lecture on Japanese Welfare Systems)
  2. Understand what has happened in the surroundings of people with disabilities in local community.
  3. Understand the role of National government and Local government concerning social services for people with disabilities.

(2) Mr. Jin'no

House type : Apartment
Impairment : Quadriplegia (spinal cord injury, caused by traffic accident)
Employment : Full-time (at a special subsidiary)
Work place : at home

<Discussion>

JICA trainees should :

  1. Understand the effectiveness of working at home
  2. Understand how to manage both his work and his own life.

(3) Mr. & Mrs. Machida

House type : Detached house
Mr. Machida. : Spinal cord injury (quadriplegia)
Manager of a community workshop
Mrs. Machida : Cerebral palsy (quadriplegia), housewife

<Discussion>

JICA trainees should :

  1. Understand the amenity of their accessible house for independent living of people with physical disorder.
  2. Understand home modification and equipments.
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