No.20 Development Support Center Starts

(Inagi Newsletter, June 15, 2013 issue)

On May 12, 2013, we held the inauguration ceremony at Friend Hirao, and we would like to thank all the attendees for their presence.
The activities of the Development Support Center are entrusted to the Social Welfare Corporation Masayume no Kai. At the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Hiroshi Ichikawa, the chairman of the corporation and a specialist in child psychiatry, provided an explanation of the purpose and shared his aspirations for the future. The nickname has been decided as "Respo Inagi," which is derived from the French word "espoir" meaning hope.
I included the establishment of a support center for individuals with developmental disabilities as one of the important issues in my election promises. This is because, during my time as a city employee in the Disability Welfare Department, I felt the necessity for continuous support that corresponds to the life stages in the community, from infancy through school age to employment.
Generally, during early childhood, the health department is involved, during school age, the education department, and after graduation, the welfare department becomes the point of contact for consultation and support as children grow. However, issues related to development may be noticed during infancy, upon entering school, or even after entering society. Therefore, it is necessary for the same organization to provide continuous support regardless of age for the individual and their family.
Traditionally, the welfare department has conducted mobile consultations centered around nursery schools, while the education department has handled school consultations before entering elementary school and consultations after enrollment. However, there have been some administrative barriers between these departments, and it is true that useful information sharing has not been adequately conducted.
To solve these issues and overcome the barriers between welfare and education, we have established a system that not only opens the Development Support Center but also deepens collaboration with the school consultation department. This involves placing the school consultation staff in the same office and having the Development Support Center staff in a visible location where they can see each other.
Moving forward, we will work to resolve concerns regarding development in collaboration between welfare and education, ensuring that we can provide tailored considerations and support for each individual. We encourage you to feel free to consult and utilize our services.