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 operations of the Development Support Center are entrusted to the Social Welfare Corporation Masayume no Kai. During 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, the points of contact for consultation and support change with a child's growth: health services during early childhood, education during school age, and welfare after graduation. 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 and after entering elementary school. However, there have been some noticeable 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 ensure that welfare and education collaborate to address concerns about development and provide tailored considerations and support for each individual, so please feel free to consult and utilize our services.