No.147 Opening of development support center branch offices, etc.

On March 21, an opening ceremony was held for three facilities: the Inagi City Development Support Center Branch, the adjacent Educational Counseling Office Branch, and the Inagi City Day Care Center for Children and Adults with Severe Physical and Mental Disabilities. Each facility began operation on April 1.
　
These facilities are the first floor of Building 17 of the Toei Inagi Apartment Complex in Daimaru, and the former Municipal Fourth Nursery School building, which have been renovated and repurposed. The land belongs to Tokyo, but the first floor of the building is owned by the city.
　
Since its completion in 1981, it has been used as the building for the city's Fourth Nursery School, with a capacity of 112 children. However, as part of measures to eliminate the waiting list for children, the school was closed down and the Inagi Nozomi Nursery School, with a capacity of 228 children, was opened nearby, through a comprehensive effort to rebuild, relocate, privatize and increase capacity. The facility remained vacant until a decision was made on what to do with the site.
　
Inagi City opened its own "Developmental Support Center" within the Friend Hirao facility in 2013 to respond to inquiries regarding people with developmental issues.
　
A unique feature of this facility is that support from the Welfare Department for preschool children and those of graduate age, and support from the Board of Education for the school-going age group, is provided by the staff of the Developmental Support Center, Educational Counseling Room, and Special Needs Education Counseling Room, who all work side by side at desks in the same office, allowing them to share information on a daily basis and create a seamless support system based on age.
　
The number of consultations at the Developmental Support Center has doubled since its opening 11 years ago, and access from the city center has been an issue, so the center has been considering setting up a branch office for some time. After negotiating with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which owns the site, to make effective use of the vacant facilities following the closure of the City Fourth Nursery School, and going through various discussions and adjustments regarding the business content and cost burden, it has now been decided that the facilities will be used as three facilities.
　
Developmental Support Center Branch
　
The new Developmental Support Center branch has been nicknamed "LeSpo Inagi Daimaru" and is located alongside the Educational Counseling Center branch, just like "LeSpo Inagi Hirao" within Friend Hirao.
　
In addition to providing consultation, this facility will also function as a "child development support center" under the Child Welfare Act, and will provide one-stop treatment and education. As the designated manager of the facility, we have asked the social welfare corporation Seiyume-no-Kai to operate it, just like Respo Inagi Hirao.
　
Educational Counseling Office Branch
　
The educational counseling room has previously been located in a prefabricated building on the south side of the Central Cultural Center grounds, but has now been relocated to the former Municipal Fourth Nursery School facility.The educational counseling room at Friend Hirao has become the central educational counseling room, and this room has been positioned as a branch of the educational counseling room.
　
Daycare facilities for children (and adults) with severe physical and mental disabilities
　
Until now, there were only two facilities in the city and the number of people eligible to use the service was limited, so new users had to look for facilities outside the city or stay at home, and there was a demand for a new facility to be established within the city.
　
The facilities of the former Municipal Fourth Nursery School are large enough that by separating the areas and sections for the Developmental Support Center Branch and the Educational Counseling Office Branch, it has become possible to set up a new day care facility.
　
The facility is managed by Life is, a general incorporated association with a track record of similar projects in Tama City. The facility is called "+laugh (andrafu) Inagi" and is intended for people with severe physical and intellectual disabilities, as well as people with disabilities who require medical care.
　
Life is is characterized by its open operation, and the Tama City facility will have a candy store attached, allowing local residents to freely enter and use the facility. The Inagi City facility will also have a juice stand, so please feel free to stop by.
　
This facility is something that the citizens have been waiting for, and at the same time, it is something that I have had a lot of feelings for for many years, so I am deeply moved that we are now able to open it. I would like to once again express my gratitude to all those involved for their efforts in making this opening possible.