Japanese Activist Campaigns for Independence of Disabled
By Park Chung-a
Staff Reporter
``People First Japan'' is one of the most active organizations that work for rights of disabled people in Japan.
Sasaki Nobuyuki, a human rights activist and secretary general of People First Tokyo, visited South Korea for the first time last week in order to publicize the People First Movement here, previous to the 7th World Assembly of Disabled People's International in Seoul in September.
``Before the start of People First Movement, many times, decisions regarding our lives and rights were often made by family members and welfare administrators, regardless of our thoughts and will. For example, many disabled people were sent to care facilities against our judgment and had to go through unpleasant experiences,'' said Nobuyuki. ``We have visited South Korea in order to convey the concept of our movement so disabled people in Korea can voice their rights and become more independent individuals. People First organizations are a prime example of the self advocacy movement in Japan.''
Nobuyuki said that according to statistics, 30 percent of homeless people in Japan suffer from developmental disabilities.
``Since they are so accustomed to homeless life, many of them just do not think of becoming independent. Also, many of them do not even know they are entitled to government support regarding their residence. Our goal is to find those people and offer them financial as well as mental help so that they become independent,'' the 33-year-old activist said. ``Actually, before the founding of the World Assembly, there were no such occasions in which such a large number of disabled people could gather, make friends and exchange opinions. The assembly itself was a really meaningful event for disabled people, which naturally lead to its continuation.''
On the name card of Nobuyuki is written ``We are people before we are handicapped.''
Yasuzati Yoshiki, a volunteer for People First Japan who has been helping Sasaki Nobuyuki for over 13 years with the activities of the organization, said that it is important for people to correct their approach toward disabled people.
``Our approach of considering them special creates a lot of stigma and bias against people who are disabled. They have to be given the right to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and build themselves accordingly, rather than make things easy and dependable. I strongly advocate that it is not that they are disabled, they are just differently-abled,'' he said.
Since its founding in 1994, the movement has grown nationwide for people with developmental disabilities who fight for their right to choose, among other key issues. There are currently 20 umbrella organizations across the nation in which disabled people share their opinions on the difficulties they encounter as disabled people and ways of improving their lives.